Access and management arrangements do not support commercial harvest resulting in reduced fisher income and employment in the sector Moderate Ensure management arrangements are effective at achieving management objectives whilst minimising costs. Legislation and regulation does not adequately support efficient, effective and responsive management resulting in suboptimal fishery outcomes. Moderate Consider the feasibility of developing a harvest strategy for the Victorian shortfin and longfin eel fisheries. Ensure eel fisheries are part of a fisheries legislation review in 2019. Impacts of the environment on the fishery (EA) - Reduced water quantity (including drought and modification of flow regimes) Moderate Development of a Victorian Eel Fishery Exceptional Circumstances Strategy Impacts of the environment on the fishery - Reduced water quantity by human activities (construction of barriers, water abstraction, change of land management activities etc.) Moderate Ensure fishery’s information and interests are considered in the decision making processes, including those of other agencies Impacts of the environment on the fishery - Reduced water quality (eg. blackwater, toxic algal blooms, impacts of droughts, floods and fires) Moderate Development of a Victorian Eel Fishery Exceptional Circumstances Strategy Impacts of the environment on the fishery - Reduced quality by human activities (chemical spills, pollution, siltation, illegal estuary mouth openings etc.) Moderate Development of a Victorian Eel Fishery Exceptional Circumstances Strategy Impacts of the environment on the fishery - effect of exotic species introductions (habitat change, competition, predation disease etc.) Moderate Advocate for improved biosecurity standards for imported eel products Effect of fishery on environments - deliberate or accidental translocation of non-endemic species during re-stock. Moderate Ensure all stocking of eels into Victorian waters follows the Protocols for the translocation of fish in Victorian inland public waters and Victorian Protocol for the Translocation of Eels Objectives of the Victorian Eel Fishery Management Plan The objectives contained in Section 3 of the Fisheries Act 1995 (listed in Section 2.3 of the Plan) require Victoria’s fisheries to be managed in an efficient, effective and ecologically sustainable manner. The following fishery-specific, ‘guiding’ objectives and subsequent strategies for the Victorian Eel Fishery are consistent with legislated objectives. Table 2 outlines the actions and performance measures for each strategy. Objective 1: Long term sustainability of eel resources; Allow for sufficient adult eel escapement and recruitment thus stock sustainability;
2. Equitable resource access and use 1. Maintain, and possible improve, access to the fishery for recreational, commercial and indigenous interests, taking existing regulations and legislation relating to access in inland and coastal waters into account 1(i) Ensure fishery’s information and interests are considered in the decision making processes, including those of other agencies. 1(i)(a) Commercial eel fishing is considered as part of recreational fish stocking decisions. 1(i)(b) Commercial eel fishing is advocated for and recognised in the forward planning of applicable land and managers. 1(ii) Work with stakeholders and agencies to discuss access on game reserves. 1(ii)(a) Meetings to discuss access to game reserves have been held and a decision conveyed to industry. 1(ii)(b) Fisheries Victoria advocates for commercial eel fishing which is recognised in the forward planning of game reserves. 1(iii) Work with industry to identify and facilitate access to new waters. 1(iii) Meetings with industry to scope potential new waters, including floodplains, have been held by July 2018. 1(iv) Work with the Department of Justice and Aboriginal people to ensure that Aboriginal Victorians have ready access to eel resources for personal and communal purposes and for specified commercial purposes. 1(iv) Engage with Victorian aboriginal groups to identify opportunities to harvest eels and support initiatives in this area. 2. Promote and efficient and effective eel culture sector 2(i) Develop, in consultation with industry, transparent and fair criteria by which permit applications are assessed. 2(i) Transparent and fair criteria drafted under this plan (Appendix 2) to assess permit applications. 2 (ii) In consultation with the appropriate agencies and industry, develop a Victorian Eel Fishery Exceptional Circumstances Strategy. 2(ii) A Victorian Eel Fishery Exceptional Circumstances Policy is drafted by December 2018. 3. Cost effective and participatory management 1. Enable participation by fishers and other relevant stakeholders in fisheries management, taking account of the respective responsibilities of government and fishers 1(i) Encourage Aboriginal Victorians to play a role in the management of eels in Victoria. 1(i) Fisheries Victoria will work collaboratively with Aboriginal organisations, groups and individuals over time to and foster relationships and beneficial partnerships that support Aboriginal participation and leadership in eel management.
any subject to an Aquaculture Licence under the Fisheries Act, 1995 specifying eels. All rivers, creeks, channels and drains downstream of the South Gippsland Highway between Dandenong and the junction of the South Gippsland and Bass Highways. All rivers, creeks, channels and drains downstream of the Bass Highway between the junction of the Gippsland and Bass Highways, and Wonthaggi. Table 3. Allocation of waters to Eel Fishery Access Licences Eel Fishery Access Licence No. Allocated Waters Basin Name 1 Tarwin River downstream from Mardon Rd Bridge (West Branch) Albert River downstream from the railway bridge 2.4 km west of Alberton. Gippsland Lakes South Gippsland (27) South Gippsland (27) 2 Eumerella downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge, including Lake Yambuk. Darlet Creek downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge Fitzroy River downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge Moyne River downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge Surrey River downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge at Heathmere, Shaw River downstream from the Princes Highway Bridge, plus all lakes, dams, swamps, marshes and morasses in the Portland and Glenelg River Basins Portland (37) 3 Lake Purrumbete Coast (35) 4 No specific allocation. 5 Lower Barwon River between Queen’s Park and Grab Hole Drain Barwon River (inc. section of Connewarre Game reserve). Barwon (33) 6 No specific allocation. 7 River downstream from Pound Rd Bridge. Gippsland Lakes. Lower Lake Mallacoota. South Gippsland (27) East Gippsland (21) 8 Belfast Lough. Shared allocation* 9 Lake Gillear. Shared allocation* Hopkins (36) 10 Merri River (inc. Kelly Swamp), downstream from the Wollaston Weir. Shared allocation* Hopkins (36) 11 No specific allocation. 12 Aire River downstream from the Great Ocean Road. Lake Corangamite. Otway Coast (35) Lake Corangamite (34)