Fisheries Victoria
'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues'

Fish-Fax issue 171, 11th May 2006

Andersons Inlet Fishery Management Plan declared

The Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Bob Cameron declared the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve (AIFR) Management Plan on 13 April 2006.

The AIFR Management Plan describes:

•  The geography of Anderson Inlet, information on recreational fishing activities and other uses/values of the inlet that may affect recreational fishing opportunities;

•  Current management arrangements for fishing activities and for other relevant values/uses of the inlet and surrounds;

•  Goals, objectives, performance indicators and actions for management of fishing activities in the AIFR; and

•  Process for participating in management of other relevant non-fishing activities in and around the inlet.

Fisheries Victoria prepared the AIFR Management Plan with the assistance of a stakeholder steering committee. The steering committee included an independent chair as well as representatives from Fisheries Co-management Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, VRFish, South Gippsland Shire Council, Parks Victoria, Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health & Housing Co-operative and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Copies of the AIFR Management Plan can be obtained from the DPI website www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing or by contacting the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Victoria 's aquaculture fisheries reserves – What you need to know.

Nine aquaculture fisheries reserves (AFRs) have been declared in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port , bringing the total area set aside for marine aquaculture in the bays to 2430 ha. Individual aquaculture farming sites (Crown leases) within the AFRs will range from 2.48 hectares to 27 hectares.

For navigation purposes it is important that recreational users are able to identify the AFRs and the Crown leases. AFRs are clearly identified by yellow special marks (piles or buoys) at the external boundaries. The marks are inscribed with ‘AQUACULTURE' in black lettering and have yellow synchronised lights. Crown leases within AFRs are not accessible to the general public and will in the future be marked by orange coloured buoys. Management arrangements are aimed at allowing aquaculture operators and recreational users to co-exist in a safe way.

A Code of Conduct has been developed after consultation with recreational user representative groups including the Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body VRFish.

Further sites within the AFRs will be issued over the coming years. For a status update please contact the Department of Primary Industries on 136 186 or check out the website www.dpi.vic.gov.au/aquareserves .

Summary of April 2006 fish releases