By the time you read this Victoria’s election will most likely be done and dusted although if there’s a similar result to the Federal poll it could still be up in the air.

Either way when you read this the result will be out our hands. Whatever party forms government in Victoria the wash up for recreational fishers and in particular your peak body, VRFish, will be business as usual and we look forward to doing our best to represent your interests into the future.

By now you should’ve caught up with the latest issue of Fishing Lines and if I say so myself it’s a very good read. There are some great articles on snapper and trout and VRFish deeply appreciate the work of our contributors.

I’d also like to acknowledge our advertisers and partners , Proangler, Department of Primary Industries, Aussie Angler, Transport Safety Victoria, Haines Hunter, Honda Marine, Port of Melbourne authority, Anchor Right, Evolution Boats, Boating Industry Association of Vic and in particular our editor John Zammit of Shipmate.

Actually you really should check out John’s website as its chock full of really interesting stuff www.shipmate.com.au plus he produces an invaluable annual pocket size book called the Shipmate Marine Directory.

As you’re well aware for Aboriginal people, cultural values are intertwined around traditional uses, spiritual connection, ancestral ties and respect for waterways, land, sea and the resources these provide. The Department of Primary Industries is seeking to improve how Victoria’s fisheries are managed to incorporate the rights, interests, aspirations and culture of Aboriginal people. They also acknowledge the interests of commercial and recreational fishers to access the community’s fisheries resources.

Fisheries Victoria (FV) has released a Draft Aboriginal Fishing Strategy that seeks to shape their approach to addressing Native Title, customary fishing, economic development opportunities, and increasing Aboriginal participation in fisheries management. The Draft Strategy has been developed on the basis of discussions with Aboriginal community members, Aboriginal groups, Government agencies, Fisheries Victoria staff and other stakeholders.

FV are committed to working together with the Aboriginal community to sustainably manage fish resources in freshwater and saltwater country, side-by-side with recreational and commercial fishers. They want to do this well, so are asking for your input and feedback on the Draft Aboriginal Fishing Strategy. Please take the time to read the Draft Strategy and provide feedback using the web form, or alternatively get in touch with the project team. The closing date for submissions is 5pm Friday 10 December 2010.

A major component of the work aligned with the Draft Aboriginal Fishing Strategy will be wide consultation with Aboriginal communities across Victoria, recreational and commercial fishers, and other fisheries stakeholders. There will be a number of opportunities for input to the project as it works through the multiple tasks. If you would like to meet with the project team or just talk about the Draft Aboriginal Fishing Strategy project, please contact: Alice McDonald on: 03 9658 4347 --e-mail address hidden-- or Michael Gilby on: 03 5051 4558 or --e-mail address hidden--

We’ve just conclude the last Open House that we’ll run this calendar year. This time it was focussed on the Port Phillip Fishery Management Plan. We had a number of speakers including Ron Lewis from Native Fish Australia (NFA) who spoke about the Dights Falls Fishway and a plan that NFA have been working on for some time to increase recreational fishing opportunities for Melbourne metropolitan-based recreational fishers. Attendees also heard a very interesting presentation on behalf of the traditional owners by Wurrundjeri Elder Bobby Mullins who himself is a very keen rec fisher.

Peter Lawson of Fisheries Victoria (FV) also gave a great presentation on the roles and responsibilities of FV in the Port Phillip Fisheries Management Plan plus we also got to see some fascinating data out of DPI Queenscliff on snapper stock assessment numbers.

For all the latest information on the VRFish Open House program, including the actions that came out of the latest on check out the VRFish website on www.vrfish.com.au If you can’t access a computer phone Samantha Snowden Finch in the office on 03 9686 7077 during business hours.