Fisheries Victoria is now consulting stakeholders about how best to deliver the Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million commitment to ban commercial netting at river mouths in the Gippsland Lakes.
In Lakes Entrance today, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said commercial and recreational fishing both have a long history in Gippsland and contribute much to the social and economic fabric of the region.
However, commercial netting at the mouths of rivers flowing into the Gippsland Lakes has been a contentious issue for many years and is one that we are committed to resolving.
We are getting on with the job of delivering our Target One Million plan to improve recreational fishing, which includes bringing an end to commercial net fishing in river mouths of the Gippsland Lakes.
The Andrews Government has no plans for a buyout of commercial fishing licences in the Gippsland Lakes as part of this process.
Public consultation will be led by Mr Craig Ingram, Coordinator of the Target One Million plan, which aims to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria to one million by getting more people fishing, more often.
Mr Ingram will report to government by 26 August this year and make recommendations on the best way forward to deliver this election commitment.
Submissions can be sent to Mr Ingram via email craig.ingram@ecodev.vic.gov.au by 15 April, 2016.
Learn more about Target One Million at
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
“Recreational fishing is a healthy pastime for the whole family that gets people active and spending time together in the great outdoors.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to getting more people fishing more often, which is why we have invested in Target One Million to increase angler numbers to one million by 2020. ”
“Recreational fishing isn’t just a great social activity, it's an economic driver of Victoria contributing more than $2.3 billion to economy and we aim to boost that figure even higher.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020