New member here, but I just wanted to flag something important that will affect a lot of us.
The vast majority of us care for our fishing resources but then you read stories of somebody taking 18 Snapper with many over size or someone else caught fishing with nets across an estuary. We need fisheries officer and Im happy to put up with request to inspect catches to ensure the future of our recreational fishing resources
There’s a proposal from the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) to close five fisheries stations around Port Phillip and Western Port. The plan includes cutting the number of fisheries officers almost in half—from 73 down to 36—and shifting their focus more toward community education rather than enforcement.
This has sparked concern about how it might affect fish stocks, marine park protection, and illegal fishing across the region.
A petition has been launched to oppose the cuts and call on the Victorian Parliament to keep the current fisheries stations and staffing levels in place.
Petition closes 19 September 2025Petition against closing Fisheries Stations in Victoria
Might be worth supporting if you care about keeping our fisheries sustainable and protected.