Your fees at work 2013-14
Every year the Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) Trust Account allocates the fees you pay for your fishing licence to projects that will directly improve recreational fishing in Victoria.
Large grants program
Through the 2013/14 round of the Recreational Fishing Grants Program - Large Grants Program, over $1.7 million will be allocated to the following 21 projects to improve recreational fishing in Victoria.
Northern ($801,632.50)
$293,680 over three years to improve fish habitat density and connectivity in the Mitta Mitta River.
$209,249.50 over three years to increase fish habitat and prevent bank erosion in the King River.
$83,600 to assess the benefits of in-stream habitat works for fish populations in the Goulburn catchment.
$75,600 over two years to enhance fish habitat in the Lower Broken Creek between Numurkah and Nathalia.
$72,400 over three years to evaluate the status of the Murray crayfish recreational fishery in Victoria.
$35,222.50 to increase fish habitat in the Ovens River.
$31,880.50 to Coliban Region Water Corporation to improve recreational fisher access to the foreshore at Coliban Reservoir.
Port Phillip ($105,689.40)
$80,000 to quantify the recreational catch and effort from Corio Bay.
$12,844.70 to install a solar light above the Swan Bay boat ramp at Queenscliff.
$12,844.70 to install a solar light above the Clifton Springs boat ramp.
South West ($525,115.44)
$255,000 over three years to improve recreational fisher vehicle and pedestrian access to Konongwootong Reservoir and provide recreational fishing facilities, such as all-abilities access fishing platforms, picnic tables and signage.
$88,200 over three years to improve angler access to the Merri River.
$60,460.80 to improve recreational fisher access and construct an all-abilities access fishing platform on the Fitzroy River, north of Portland.
$60,000 to construct two all-abilities access fishing platforms at Spring Creek, vicinity of Torquay.
$37,092.64 to construct recreational fisher access stairs at Boggaley Creek, near Lorne.
$24,362 to conduct a population assessment of blackfish in the Gellibrand River.
Gippsland ($135,551.63)
$54,602.63 to investigate the fecundity and egg quality of dusky flathead in East Gippsland.
$43,384 to construct two all-abilities access fishing platforms and install two in-stream log structures at Tarra River estuary, Tarraville.
$37,565 over two years to construct an all-abilities access fishing platform and increase fish habitat in the Tarwin River/Andersons Inlet at Tarwin Lower.
State-wide ($176,000)
$110,000 to commission a (second) study into the economic contribution of recreational fishing to Victoria.
$66,000 over three years to install a further 90 'Seal the Loop' fishing line disposal bins around Victoria.
Commissioning grants program
Through the 2013/14 round of the Recreational Fishing Grants Program - Commissioning Grants Program, over $1.9 million will be allocated to the following three projects to improve recreational fishing in Victoria:
Better Recreational Fishing through Informed Fish Stocking
The aim of this project is to stock an additional 1,110,000 fish into Victoria's waterways over the next three years, in consideration of, and to complement, the planned annual stocking program conducted by Fisheries Victoria.
The project also involves fish surveys, the development of an on-line fish stocking search engine and the captive breeding and monitoring of Macquarie perch.
The cost of this project is $990,600 over three years.
Marine and estuarine finfish recreational fisheries monitoring and assessment
The aim of this project is to provide fisheries managers, policy makers and industry stakeholders with the necessary information and advice to guide policy decisions aimed at ensuring that fish stocks and the impacts of fishing are managed at sustainable levels.
The cost of this project is $729,000 over two years.
Fisheries Education & Communication Products
The aim of this project is to continue the range of products that assist recreational fishers to understand and comply with fishing rules, without having to refer to legislative documents that are often difficult to comprehend.
The cost of this project is $235,981.61, whereby Fisheries Victoria would produce and distribute the following products to recreational anglers:
- 300,000 copies of the 2013/14 Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide;
- 200,000 fish length ruler stickers;
- 20,000 abalone, rock lobster and spiny crayfish measures in three different languages;
- 400 metal fish length rulers for installation at busy piers and fishing platforms;
- 6,000 abalone pocket cards;
- 5,000 Murray cod length/weight rulers;
- 1,000 abalone dive tags; and
- 30,000 'Know your limits' pocket cards, in four different languages.
Other RFL trust account expenditure
- During 2013/14, RFL revenue will also fund: Recreational fisheries field services (state-wide);
- The purchase and liberation of native and salmonid fish, made in consideration of, and to complement the planned annual stocking program conducted by Fisheries Victoria;
- Recreational Fishing Grants Program - Small Grants Program;
- The administration of the RFL and the Grants Programs; VRFish; Fishcare Victoria Inc.;
- RFL sales commissions; and RFL and RFGP-related community information.
A report is tabled in Parliament in October each year concerning all RFL Trust Account revenue and expenditure. The Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account 2013/14 Report is available for revenue spent in 2013/14 and previous years.