Report to Parliament 2003-2004

October 2004

Fisheries Act 1995

Pursuant to Section 151B(4) Fisheries Act 1995, the Minister (Responsible for Victoria's Fisheries) must cause a report on how amounts paid into the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account were disbursed -

1. to be prepared by 1 October each year; and,
2. to be laid before each House of Parliament on or before the 7th sitting day of that House after the report has been prepared.

For the information of Honourable Members, the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account came into effect on 1 April 2001, and a new Fisheries Revenue Allocation Committee, whose function is to provide any advice requested by me on priorities for the disbursement of funds from the RFL Trust Account, was appointed for three years on 1 August 2003.

The Committee consists of six members, including-

1. two members of the Fisheries Co-Management Council or of a fishery committee with knowledge of, and experience in, recreational fishing nominated by the Council;
2. two people nominated by the Secretary, Department of Primary Industries;
3. two people nominated by the recognised peak body for recreational fishing (VRFish).

The 2003/04 financial year is the third full year of the RFL Trust Account's operation.

The Victorian Auditor-General has audited the revenue received, and disbursements made from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account in 2003/04.

Recreational Fisheries Officers

The Department of Primary Industries employs 10 regionally-based Recreational Fisheries Officers (RFOs) who are fully funded from RFL Trust Account revenue. RFOs were first employed in October 1999 to perform a significant and continuing compliance, education and extension services role following the introduction, in July 1999, of the All-Waters RFL. The RFOs perform a range of activities that contribute significantly to the improvement of recreational fishing opportunities in Victoria.

Gippsland Region

Fisheries Gippsland Region employed two Recreational Fisheries Officers, with one based at Mallacoota (relocated to Traralgon), and another based at Lakes Entrance. These officers performed a significant and continuing compliance, education and extension services role in the region. The officers' activities have included but are not confined to the following.

• Conduct fisheries patrols to check recreational fishers' compliance with catch limits, size limits and licensing
• Provide support to the region's Fishcare Facilitator
• Assist in the coordination of Fishcare Volunteers' activities in the region
• Provide advice to the public in relation to recreational fishing
• Assist in the organisation of field days and outings for Fishcare Volunteers
• Provide assistance to Primary Industries Research Victoria staff in the collection of creel survey information
• Contribute articles to the Fishcare Newsletter and local media
• Organise and encourage local school field trips providing environmental information
• Organise additional outlets for the sale of recreational fishing licences
• Attend field days to provide visitors with recreational fisheries related information and advice
• Attend fishing competitions
• Liaise with local tackle shops, providing up-to-date literature and information sheets regarding recreational fish species
• Training in the management of fish-health emergencies

Summary of Gippsland Region's Recreational Fisheries Officer Outputs - 2003/04

Northern Region

Fisheries Northern Region employs two indigenous Recreational Fisheries Officers - one is based at Tatura, and one at Swan Hill.

These officers perform a significant and continuing compliance, education and extension services role in inland Victoria. Both officers perform a range of activities that contribute significantly to the improvement of recreational fishing and improved relationships between recreational fishers and indigenous communities throughout the region. Since their employment, their activities have included, but are not confined to the following.

• Conduct fisheries patrols to check on fish catch, size limits and recreational fishing licence compliance
• Attendance at training
• Attendance at recreational fishing events and expos
• Contribution to recreational fish surveys
• Attendance at angling club meetings
• Provide, maintain and encourage local schools with displays education programs, etc.
• Conduct junior recreational fishing clinics to promote sustainable and responsible fishing practices
• Develop community links with indigenous and non-indigenous persons through government and private sector
• Inform local areas of fish stocking programs within their community through local media
• Prepare brief for court proceedings
• Assist Fisheries Officers with 'fish-kill' management at Nagambie

Summary of Northern Region's Recreational Fisheries Officer Outputs - 2003/04

Port Phillip Region

Fisheries Port Phillip Region employs four Recreational Fisheries Officers - one is based at each of Altona, Cowes, Geelong, and Mornington. These officers undertake a range of activities that contribute significantly to the improvement of recreational fishing within the region, and on occasions across Victoria. Over the past year, their activities have included, but are not confined to the following.

• Participated in various, and regular enforcement operations, ranging from overt holiday blitzes to covert investigations into alleged illegal take of snapper
• Contributed to the operation of the Fishcare Program at four locations in conjunction with a Regional Fishcare Facilitator
• Attendance at recreational fishing events and expos, such as Lilydale Lake Family Day, Western port Whiting Challenge, Jack 'Yabbie' Wells' Whiting Competition, Fishing & Great Outdoors Expo, and Ron Nelson Memorial Family Fishing Day
• Attendance at workshops and forums to discuss issues relating to recreational fishing of abalone and rock lobster, fish disease emergency preparedness, and newly introduced Fish Translocation Guidelines
• Contribution to recreational fisher creel surveys coordinated by Primary Industries Research Victoria within Port Phillip Bay, Western port, and Lake Modewarre
• Attendance at angling club meetings and presentation nights
• Major contribution to the conduct of the Frankston on Sea Festival and 'The Briars' Environment Week schools' education expo
• Attendance at 'Get Hooked' Fishing Clinics as part of the Coast Action/Coastcare Summer Activities Program
• Installation of fish measuring rulers on piers
• Attendance at working group meetings to assist Parks Victoria staff communicate key messages and the development of compliance plans, following the implementation of the Marine National Parks package
• Contributions regarding recreational fishing to local and metropolitan newspapers, departmental newsletters and Internet site, and brochures and reports
• Provision of input to annual Freshwater Fisheries (fish stocking) Consultation ('CONS') meeting
• Operated as key members of a regional Recreational Fisheries and Habitat Project Team
• Conducted investigations into recreational harvesting of snapper, Pacific Islander impacts on the recreational take of shellfish, and assessed the suitability of new small waters for fish stocking
• Developed a process by which the design and placement of recreational fisheries' related signage can be improved
• Organised attendance by volunteers, and overall logistics, at fish releases
• Acted as a point of contact for Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects

Summary of Port Phillip Region's Recreational Fisheries Officer Outputs - 2003/04

South West Region

Fisheries South West Region employs two Recreational Fisheries Officers - one is based at Portland and one at Warrnambool.

During 2003-04 these officers' activities have included, but are not confined to the following.

• Develop and participate in recreational fisheries related projects including the Melbourne Fishing Show, Warrnambool Fishing Expo, Russell Cairn's Fishing and 4WD Expo, Kids Fishing clinics, Ballarat Fishing Expo, and the Victorian Fishcare conference.
• Attend angling club meetings, events and competitions, Regional Fish Stocking Consultation (CONS) meeting, the Warrnambool Fishcare Program, World Environment Day in-schools programs, National Water Week schools program, the opening of Marine National Parks areas, the 'Get Hooked' schools program
• Participate in a carp survey at Rocklands Reservoir/Glenelg River, Lake Bullen Merri creel program, Hopkins/Merri river creel program, Portland creel survey, Crawford River Spiny Crayfish survey, Lakes Hamilton and Konongwootong fish surveys, and Rock Lobster tagging program
• Various training including Aquaculture, Legal 2 and Certificate 4 in Government Fraud Investigation
• Assist Primary Industries Research Victoria in bream and snapper research programs, the Murray cod survey, and fish relocation in Lake Charlegrark
• Conduct fish releases across the region
• Disentanglement of humpback whale
• Participate in targeted recreational fisheries compliance operations, and conduct patrols Summary of South West Region's Recreational Fisheries Officers' Outputs - 2003/04

Notes to the Financial Report

These notes form part of and should be read in conjunction with the financial report of the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account.

Note 1 Statement of Accounting Policies

(i) Basis of preparation

This special purpose financial report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries Act 1995.

The report has been prepared on a cash basis to report on how levies and application fees received in respect of recreational fishing licences have been disbursed from the trust account.

Report concerning how amounts paid into the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account were disbursed in 2003/2004.

Note 2 - Payments to Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects during 2003/04

Note 3 - provision to fund 2003/04's approved Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects, and other items in 2004/05

Projects approved and announced by Minister

View Note 3