Report to Parliament 2004-2005

October 2005

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 -

(a) to be prepared by 1 October each year; and,

(b) 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-

(a) 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;

(b) two people nominated by the Secretary, Department of Primary Industries;

(c) two people nominated by the recognised peak body for recreational fishing (VRFish).

The 2004/05 financial year is the fourth 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 2004/05.

Recreational Fisheries Officers

The Department of Primary Industries employs 10 regionally based Fisheries Officers who are funded from Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) Trust Account revenue. These Fisheries Officers 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. These Officers perform a range of activities that contribute significantly to the improvement of recreational fishing opportunities in Victoria.

Port Phillip Region

Fisheries Port Phillip Region employs four RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers - one 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 have not been confined to the following.

• Provide timely advice to Fisheries staff at their location and across the region.
• Participated in various, and regular enforcement operations, ranging from overt holiday blitzes to covert investigations into alleged illegal take of snapper and shellfish.
• Contributed to the operation of the Fishcare Program at four locations in conjunction with the Regional Fishcare Facilitator.
• Attendance at recreational fishing events, such as Rhyll Angling Club - shark competition, Tea Tree snapper competition, Wyndham Angling Classic (Werribee river), Shimano Fishing Competition (Port Phillip Bay), Powlett river Bream Tag Day, San Remo Fishing Festival.
• Attendance at workshops and forums to discuss issues relating to recreational fishing of abalone, particularly the introduction of new recreational abalone regulations, and rock lobster, fish disease emergency preparedness, and the Fish Translocation Guidelines.
• Contribution to recreational fisher creel surveys coordinated by Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic.) within Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, Lake Modewarre, and middle reaches of the Yarra river.
• Assist in the delivery of the Environmental Awareness and Fisheries Crime Prevention Program targeting secondary colleges along the Mornington Peninsula.
• Organised the Summer Bicycle Program/Competition for the Geelong area.
• Designed and produced the "Know your limits" banner displayed across the Mornington Peninsula.
• Participated as Duty Officer for 13FISH (alleged fisheries offences reporting) on many occasions.
• Attendance at angling club meetings and presentation nights.
• Facilitated the Department of Human Services' Special Needs Fishing Program at Cowes, and Lilydale lakes.
• Undertook a Fish of Significance Project on the Yarra river and its resident populations of Macquarie perch and Murray cod.
• Assisted regional staff to conduct a netting survey of Lake Fyans in western Victoria.
• Attendance at 'Get Hooked' fishing clinics as part of the Coast Action/Coastcare Summer Activities Program.
• Membership of working groups assisting Parks Victoria's development of Management Plans for various Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries.
• Contributions regarding recreational fishing to local and metropolitan newspapers, departmental newsletters and Internet site, and brochures and reports.
• Input to The Victorian Fisheries Authority's annual regional fish stocking consultation ('CONs') process/meeting.
• Provided key assistance to surveys of Lake Modewarre fish kills and Yarra river eel kills.
• Operated as key members of the regional Recreational Fisheries and Habitat Project Team.
• Conducted investigations into recreational harvesting of snapper, squid, shellfish, and assessed the suitability of new small waters for fish stocking.
• 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 RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers' outputs

Gippsland Region

Fisheries Gippsland Region employs two RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers with one based at Lakes Entrance and one at Traralgon. These officers continue to perform a significant and continuing compliance, education and extension services role in the region.

Their activities have included, but have not been 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.
• Advise the public regarding aspects of recreational fishing.
• Assist in the organisation of field days and outings for Fishcare Volunteers.
• Provide assistance to Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic.) 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.
• 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.
• Produce public display material for shows and information boards.
• Training in boat operation and compliance techniques.
• Acted as a point-of-contact for Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects.

Summary of Gippsland Region's RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers' outputs

Northern Region

Fisheries Northern Region employs two RFL Trust Account funded indigenous 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. Over the past year, their activities have included, but have not been confined to the following.

• Conduct fisheries patrols to check on fish catch, size limits and recreational fishing licence compliance.
• Attendance at recreational fishing events and expositions.
• 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.
• Acted as a point-of-contact for Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects.

Summary of Northern Region's RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers' outputs

South West Region

There are two RFL Trust Account funded Fisheries Officers in the South West region - one is based at Portland, and one at Warrnambool.

Over the past year, their activities have included, but have not been confined to the following.

Develop, and participate in recreational fisheries related projects providing advice on fisheries compliance, advocacy and management at the Warrnambool Fishing Expo., Russell Cairn's Fishing and 4WD Expo., Kids' fishing clinics, Ballarat Fishing Expo., Victorian Fishcare conference, World Environment Day in-schools programs, National Water Week activities, Hamilton Sheepvention display, and the 'Get Hooked' schools program.

• Attend angling club meetings, events and competitions, regional fish stocking consultation ('CONs') meeting, the Warrnambool Fishcare Program.
• Participate in carp surveys of Rocklands reservoir and the Glenelg river.
• Participate in fish surveys including, Portland creel survey, Crawford river spiny crayfish survey, Tea Tree lake, Lakes Fyans and Konongwootong, and the Wimmera river.
• Assist Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic.) in bream (hooking trial) and snapper research programs and fish tagging.
• Conduct fish releases across the region.
• Undertake various training to improve the quality of work in recreational fisheries management and compliance including Certificate 1V, CIDT (mandatory training required to undertake all fisheries compliance work), Inland Coxswain's course (qualification to operate a small vessel in inland waters to monitor recreational fishing activities).
• Assist in publication of Tides and Times book.
• Participate in targeted recreational fishing compliance operations, and conduct tactical fisheries patrols.
• Acted as a point-of-contact for Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects.

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 2004-2005 financial year

Note 2 - Payments to Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects during 2004/05

Note 3 - provision to fund 2004/05's approved Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects, and other items in 2005/06 and beyond as applicable

Projects approved and announced by Minister

View Note 3

Note 4 - Cash assets

Cash as at 30 June 2005 of $2,346,626.43 shown in the financial statement includes $720,000 which has been invested pursuant to Section 151B(4)(5) Fisheries Act 1995.