The Future Fisheries Strategy: Proposals for Reform by the Department of Primary Industries, was released earlier this month. The strategy is seeking feedback for the reform proposal through written submissions and through a series of workshops being held by Fisheries Victoria across the State.

Being the voice of Victorian recreational fishing to government is a critical part of our role as your peak body. We have noted through our consultations with our members that many fishers have expressed some concerns with the proposed strategy as it currently appears.

VRFish held some reservations that the process and timing nominated was not sufficient to adequately achieve an outcome acceptable to Victorian recreational fishers. We are pleased to report that our concerns, in some way, have been addressed by Fisheries Victoria and the period for comment has been extended through to 1st March 2012.

VRFish will be holding a public meeting on Saturday 18th February at our address in South Melbourne to be attended by Fisheries Victoria where the proposed strategy will be discussed in depth. At the time of writing the full details are yet to be finalised so please contact the office during business hours on 03 9686 7077 or alternatively via email --e-mail address hidden--

For further information on the proposed Future Fisheries Strategy, please refer to the Department of Primary Industries’ website www.dpi.vic.gov.au

In response to the release of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan the peak recreational fishing organisations in Queensland, New South Wales Victoria and South Australia formed an alliance with representatives of the recreational fishing industry to speak with the one voice on issues affecting recreational fishers in the Murray Darling Basin. The newly established Murray-Darling Basin Recreational Fishing Council have come together to help ensure the health of our rivers and fish communities in the Basin.

This council has released a study identifying recreational fishing as one of the biggest contributors to regional economies in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Recreational Fishing Council, Mr Christopher Collins said “For the first time, this research highlights the significance of recreational fishing to regional communities in the Basin. On average, recreational fishers go fishing in the Basin 12 times per year, individually spending around $262 each trip. With approximately 430,000 fishers in the Basin, recreational fishers spend around $1.3 billion each year when fishing in the Murray-Darling Basin”

The study also found that recreational fishing in the Basin contributes approximately $403 million to Gross Domestic Product, and employs around 10,950 people.

“These findings remind us that there is more to regional communities in the Murray-Darling Basin than irrigation. These results highlight that healthy fish and fish habitats are critical to the economic viability of our regional communities.”

“The take home message from this research is a simple but important one, healthy rivers mean more fish. More fish, means more fishers spending money in the Basin and that is a key ingredient,” said Mr Collins.

To view the study, please go to the VRFish website: www.vrfish.com.au

Now that VRFish has Holly Cardamone has joined the VRFish team in the role of Communication/Policy Advisor we have decided to increase the frequency of our magazine “Fishing Lines” to three issues per year. Article submissions are now being accepted for the March issue. Potential advertisers should contact Holly on --e-mail address hidden--

This publication is the go-to magazine for news and information for fishing enthusiasts right across the State.

Please find the link on the VR Fish website at www.vrfish.com.au.