Aquaculture fisheries reserves

Marine aquaculture is undertaken in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port within individual farming sites (Crown leases), ranging from 3 ha to 27 ha located within nine Aquaculture Fisheries Reserves (AFRs).

AFRs are clearly identified with yellow special marks (piles or buoys) with 'AQUACULTURE' inscribed in black lettering on the X top mark and yellow synchronised lights placed at the external boundaries (pictured top right).

Crown leases within AFRs are not accessible to the general public and leaseholders install orange floats to mark the boundaries (pictured bottom right).

It is an offence to tie up or otherwise interfere with any commercial aquaculture equipment that is within a crown lease within an AFR.

To identify where you may encounter aquaculture fisheries reserves in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, please refer to the map below.

Note: The Beaumaris and Bates Point Aquaculture Fisheries Reserves are no longer active and are currently open for recreational fishing access following the removal of the aquaculture buoys in December 2024.

The reserves are included on the below map as they remain a declared Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve.