March 16, 2022
Commercial fishing nets will be removed from Port Phillip Bay by 1 April 2022, delivering an election commitment by the Andrews Labor Government. Eight snapper longline fishing licences will remain and the long-line fishers will be allowed to catch 11 tonnes of snapper (per licence).
In February, the Minister for Fishing and Boating, Melissa Horne, made a decision to continue limiting commercial fishing bycatch in Port Phillip Bay. Following the Minister’s decision, the Victorian Fisheries Authority commenced consultation to determine the allowable catch of other species.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority have now finalised the allowable commercial bycatch limits in Port Phillip Bay. Each of the eight snapper long-line commercial fishers, in addition to the 11-tonnes of snapper, will be allowed to catch:
- 2 tonne per licence annual combined catch limit for fish other than snapper and shark;
- 1 tonne per licence annual catch limit for shark;
- a zero catch of King George whiting, calamari, yellowtail kingfish and mulloway.
FISHERIES NOTICES FOR THE WESTERN PORT/ PORT PHILLIP BAY FISHERY HAVE BEEN FINALISED
- Initial Quota Order for Snapper Fishing in the Western Port/Port Phillip Bay (Commercial) Fishery (Attachment 1)
- Further quota order for Snapper Fishing in the Western Port/Port Phillip Bay (Commercial) Fishery (Attachment 2)
- Fisheries (Western Port/Port Phillip Bay Fishery Catch Limit) Notice 2022 (Attachment 3)
The Initial Quota Order for Snapper Fishing in the Western Port/Port Phillip Bay (Commercial) Fishery (Attachment 1) has been finalised without amendment. This Order:
- establishes the Western Port/Port Phillip Bay (WP/PPB) Fishery as a quota managed snapper fishery;
- declares that the number of individual snapper quota units in the WP/PPB Fishery will be equal to the total allowable commercial catch (TACC) of snapper divided by the value of an individual quota unit, as determined in a Further Quota Order;
- specifies that individual snapper quota units will be allocated evenly to those licence holders holding a WP/PPB Fishery Access Licence on 1 April 2022; and
- enables snapper quota to be transferred permanently or temporarily to licence holders in the WP/PPB fishery.
The Further Quota Order for Snapper Fishing in the Western Port/Port Phillip Bay (Commercial) Fishery (Attachment 2) has been finalised without amendment. This Order:
- Sets the TACC of snapper for the fishery at 88 tonnes from 1 April 2022; and
- Establishes that an individual quota unit for the Westernport/Port Phillip Bay fishery is 1,000kg of snapper
The Initial and Further quota orders implement Section 153E of the Fisheries Act 1995 which provides that the Minister (or delegate) must not make an order in relation to the commercial fishery operating in Western Port and Port Phillip Bay (WP/PPB) for the 12-month period commencing on 1 April 2022 that:
- Sets a total allowable catch (TAC) that exceeds 88 tonnes of snapper, or
- Allocates quota units to each holder of a WP/PPB Fishery Access Licence that are other than the equivalent of 11 tonnes of snapper.
The Fisheries Notice (Western Port/Port Phillip Bay Fishery Catch Limit) 2022 (the Notice) (Attachment 3) has been finalised with one amendment. Specifically, the Notice:
- Specifies a 2 tonne per licence annual combined catch limit for fish other than snapper and shark; and
- Specifies a 1 tonne per licence annual catch limit for shark; and
- Specifies a zero catch of King George whiting, calamari, yellowtail kingfish and mulloway; and
- Revokes the Fisheries (Western Port/Port Phillip Bay Fishery Catch Limit) Notice 2021.
There has been one amendment to the Notice following consultation. The final Notice includes a provision for the use of a commercial registered boat for recreational fishing if all requirements for prior reporting and log entry are completed. This removes the requirement to apply and carry a separate Exemption Certificate when recreationally fishing. Note the prohibition against recreational fishing while undertaken commercial fishing activities remains.
An explanatory Statement has been prepared to describe the intent of the final Notice (Attachment 4).
These 3 notices are now published in the Government Gazette and will be available on the VFA website and will come into effect on 1 April 2022. They have been finalised following consideration of several proposals and submissions from all fishing sectors. The arrangements that are established by these instruments recognises the transition of the WP/PPB Fishery from a net fishery to a limited 88-tonne long line snapper fishery, allowing some limited catch of species other than snapper using non-net methods.
