New report says Victorian fisheries in good shape

[fishingvic]

Media Release
Monday 12, December 2016 | Media contact: Nick Foster 03 8392 6254
www.vic.gov.au/fisheries

New report says Victorian fisheries in good shape

The Victorian Fish Stock Status Report has been released online and indicates the majority of the state’s wild fish stocks are in good shape, which is excellent news for recreational and commercial fishers and seafood consumers.
Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Travis Dowling, said the report provides a clear overview of how the states distinct populations of fish breeds are managed and applies a rating based on the best information currently available.
“To simplify its findings, the report uses a traffic light rating system of green, amber or red to indicate the relative health of each fish stock,” Mr Dowling said.
“The risk management ratings take into account stock status, drawing on the 2014 National Stock Status Report, recent stock assessments and current management settings in Victorian waters.
“Of 27 key Victorian managed fisheries rated in the report, 17 were classified as green, 10 were amber and pleasingly, and none were red.
“Green rated fisheries were eastern and western Victorian stocks of Australian salmon, eastern and southern stocks of sardines, black bream, dusky flathead, King George whiting, Murray cod, Port Phillip Bay scallops, school prawn, black and white sea urchin stocks, eastern and western snapper, calamari, rock lobster and tailor.”
“When reading the report, it is also important to bear in mind that fishing is not the only factor that affects our fish stocks. Many of our stocks fluctuate naturally over time, and are affected by environmental drivers and the condition of their habitats.”
Mr Dowling said the report is a Victorian-focussed companion to the national Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks report, released in 2014 and soon to be updated in 2016.
“Our new report includes the national stock status ratings, which are based on standard, agreed approaches for determining whether the abundance of fish and level of harvest from the stock are sustainable.”
The Victorian Fish Stock Status Report is now available online at www.vic.gov.au/fishstockstatus (link to be requested from web team)

[eddyt]

Sand flathead mullet and garfish are amber but certainly feels like there's more of these guys around than the snapper! Still on a grand total of 0 snapper caught this year

[Lightningx]

Good to hear! Great news :thumbsup:

[4liters]

Sand flathead mullet and garfish are amber but certainly feels like there's more of these guys around than the snapper! Still on a grand total of 0 snapper caught this year

the mullet and gar assessment is based on commercial catch rates in Corner Inlet so we might not be noticing much here

[hornet]

It would have to look good on all species now the netters have ceased operations, I'd be very worried if the results were in the red on their traffic lights as they put it ..

[4liters]

It would have to look good on all species now the netters have ceased operations, I'd be very worried if the results were in the red on their traffic lights as they put it ..

I heard that was part of the motivation for doing the survey. This will at as a baseline that future surveys can be compared to over time so we'll be able to easily see the effects of the ban on netting

[frozenpod]

Re sand flathead keep in mind 95% of the PPB population was wiped out due to environmental factors *cough* dredging in PPB.