Anthony Hurst
Acting Executive Director
Fisheries Victoria
GPO Box 4440
Melbourne Vic 3001

Dear Anthony,
VRFish refers to Jon Presser's 2nd July 2009 correspondence seeking comments on the proposed allocation of sixty recreational fishing days for abalone in central Victorian waters for the 2009/10 season.

VRFish acknowledges the proposed allocation of sixty days for the 2009/10 season. As noted in the correspondence VRFish met with Fisheries Victoria on 28th May 2009 to discuss the future management arrangements for abalone.

As agreed, the following recreational fishing arrangements are to be included in the Victorian Abalone Fishery Management Plan:

• Increase greenlip legal minimum length to 140cm (not including Port Phillip Bay)
• Increase blacklip legal minimum length to 125cm (130cm to be maintained by Fisheries Notice in the WZ while recovering from virus) not including Port Phillip Bay
• Central Victorian Water days to increase to 123 days - including all of January
• Existing management tools to be retained e.g. bag limits
• Clarification required on bay line in Port Phillip Bay and to be included in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide
• All regulations are to be included in the new Victorian Abalone Fishery Management Plan (VAFMP)

VRFish notes that Fisheries Victoria have committed to finalising the VAFMP by the end of 2009. At this meeting it was also requested that all best efforts are to be explored to implement the above mentioned changes in the earliest possible timeframe. VRFish promotes that the communications strategy be organised and run as soon as the VAFMP has been declared.

We look forward to receiving the final Fisheries Notice.

Kind regards,
Geoff Cramer
Chairman