The Hon Peter Walsh MP
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
Minister for Water
Visit http://www.premier.vic.gov.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more news
Media release
Saturday 2 August 2014
Coalition funds Australia-first reef restoration
· Landmark partnership will work to restore shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay
· $270,000 project aims to improve fish habitat and angling opportunities
· Victorian Coalition Government building a stronger recreational fishing sector
Shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay will be rejuvenated under a landmark partnership between
the Victorian Coalition Government and one of the world’s largest conservation groups.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh today announced the Coalition
Government and the Nature Conservancy would work together on Australia’s first shellfish
reef restoration project as part of a three-year, $270,000 partnership.
“Shellfish beds are recognised as important ecological features of Port Phillip Bay as they can
provide key fish habitat valued by both commercial and recreational fishers,” Mr Walsh said.
“The pilot project will use native flat oysters raised at the Department of Environment and
Primary Industries’ Queenscliff hatchery to re-establish shellfish presence on reefs in the Bay,
and is expected to significantly improve fish habitat and recreational fishing opportunities.
“While this is the first Australian reef restoration effort, the project will test a range of reef
restoration methods based on successful overseas experiences.”
Mr Walsh said the first reefs to be restored would be at Geelong, Hobsons Bay and Chelsea.
The Nature Conservancy will contribute $150,000 while the Coalition Government will provide
$120,000 from the $16 million Recreational Fishing Initiative.
“The Victorian Coalition Government has delivered more for recreational fishing in three-anda-
half years than the former Labor government did in more than a decade,” Mr Walsh said.
“By improving angling opportunities across the state through the Recreational Fishing
Initiative, we are helping local communities thrive and building a better Victoria.”
The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Dr James Fitzsimons said restoring the
Bay’s shellfish reefs was an exciting project for the organisation to be involved in.
“Around the world, considerable progress is being made to restore estuarine reefs that
increase biodiversity, improve fishery productivity and filter the water,” Dr Fitzsimons said.
Mr Walsh said the project was initiated by Fisheries Victoria and the Albert Park Yachting and
Angling Club, whose members had identified through club fishing records the loss of
productive snapper habitat in and around Hobsons Bay.
Media contact: Deborah Cole 0419 962 644 deborah.cole@minstaff.vic.gov.au
Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
Coalition funds Australia-first reef restoration
News and media releases from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
- fishingvic
- Site Admin
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:32 pm
- Location: St Kilda, Victoria
- Has liked: 389 times
- Likes received: 264 times
Return to “Department of Primary Industries / Fisheries”
Jump to
- *Premium Members Area*
- Fishing Victoria
- ↳ Welcome to Fishing Victoria
- ↳ Announcements
- ↳ Suggestions and Feedback
- ↳ Introductions
- ↳ General
- ↳ Department of Primary Industries / Fisheries
- ↳ VRFish (Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak-Body)
- Fishing Reports
- ↳ Melbourne Fishing Reports - Port Phillip Bay and Mornington Peninsula
- ↳ Melbourne CBD & Docklands area
- ↳ Williamstown to Werribee
- ↳ Port Melbourne to St Kilda
- ↳ Brighton to Sandringham
- ↳ Black Rock to Mordialloc
- ↳ Chelsea to Frankston
- ↳ Mornington To Dromana
- ↳ Rosebud to Sorrento/Portsea
- ↳ Western Port Bay Fishing Reports
- ↳ Gunnamatta Beach and The Back Beaches
- ↳ Cape Schanck
- ↳ Flinders to Hastings
- ↳ Warneet To San Remo
- ↳ French Island
- ↳ Phillip Island
- ↳ Geelong, The Great Ocean Road and the Bellarine Peninsula Fishing Reports
- ↳ Geelong - Corio Bay
- ↳ Portarlington to Queenscliff
- ↳ Point Lonsdale to Lorne
- ↳ Apollo Bay to Portland
- ↳ Gippsland Fishing Reports
- ↳ Grampians and Surrounds Fishing Reports
- ↳ Northern Victoria Fishing Reports
- ↳ Other Victorian Fishing Reports
- ↳ Yarra Valley and surrounds
- ↳ Other Australian States
- ↳ New South Wales
- ↳ Tasmania
- ↳ South Australia
- ↳ Queensland
- ↳ Western Australia
- ↳ Northern Territory
- ↳ ACT
- ↳ The Rest of the World
- Land Based Fishing
- ↳ Melbourne Land Based Fishing
- ↳ Surf Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- ↳ Snapper Fishing
- ↳ Whiting Fishing
- ↳ Squid Fishing
- ↳ Shark Fishing
- ↳ Bream Fishing
- ↳ Flathead fishing
- ↳ Australian Salmon Fishing
- ↳ Mulloway Fishing
- ↳ Yellowtail Kingfish Fishing
- ↳ Game Fishing
- ↳ Bait
- ↳ Fish ID
- ↳ General Salt Water Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- ↳ Australian Natives
- ↳ Other Species
- ↳ General Fresh Water Fishing
- ↳ Family Fishing Lakes
- General fishing tips and tricks
- ↳ Fish Recipes and Preparation
- ↳ Fishing techniques
- ↳ Fly fishing in Victoria
- Fishing Tackle
- ↳ Fishing Rods & Reels
- ↳ Hooks, Line & Sinkers
- ↳ Soft Plastics & Lures
- ↳ Other Fishing Equipment
- ↳ Tackle Store Reviews
- ↳ Fishing sales, deals and bargains
- ↳ Show us your purchases
- ↳ Rod building or repair
- Boating and Marine
- ↳ Boating
- ↳ Fishing Charters and Boat Hire
- ↳ Kayak Fishing
- ↳ Marine Electronics
- ↳ GPS Marks
- Victorian Fishing Clubs & Competitions
- ↳ Fishing Competitions
- ↳ Victorian Fishing Clubs
- Snorkeling and Diving around Melbourne
- ↳ Snorkeling and diving around Melbourne
- Classifieds
- ↳ For sale
- ↳ Wanted
- Off Topic
- ↳ Off Topic Forum