Community

RECREATIONAL FISHING AND/OR COLLECTION OF SEAFOOD

A reminder to the community that you require a licence for any recreational fishing or seafood collecting pursuits! To find out more about where to purchase a licence or bag/size limits go to: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries.

Uniformed and plain-clothes Fisheries Officers constantly perform spot checks all over Victoria, resulting in fines of up to $120,000 and/or penalties of up to 10 years in jail and confiscation of equipment.

13FISH (ph. 13 3474) is a statewide 24/7 fisheries offence reporting line. Reports from the community have led to the conviction of people for offences such as illegal netting and taking commercial quantities of abalone.

The 13 FISH service has been supported by regular enforcement operations at peak fishing times. In addition, legislation introduced in 2004 is now even tougher on fisheries offenders with:

* An indictable offence for trafficking abalone and rock lobster;
* Larger fines and tougher jail sentences for offenders;
* Enhanced search and arrest powers for Fisheries Officers.

Licences are only $25.00 each! Purchase your licence now and stick to the bag/size limits to avoid hefty fines!

You will not need a licence to fish if you are:

under 18 years of age;
70 years of age or over;.

or a holder of a:

Victorian Seniors Card or interstate equivalent;
Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Card;
Veterans’ Affairs Repatriation Health Card coded (TPI)
Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card coded either (DSP), (DSP Blind), (AGE), (AGE Blind) or (CAR)