2021Corner Inlet Fisheries NoticeConsultation Plan

2021 Corner Inlet Fisheries Notice Consultation Plan

CONTENTSCORNER INLET FISHERY CONSULTATION PLAN 2021PREAMBLE ........................................................................... 2

Closing date for submissions ............................................. 2 FLOW CHART OF CONSULTATION .......................................... 3 CONSULTATION PLAN ........................................................... 4

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2021 Corner Inlet Fisheries Notice Consultation Plan

PREAMBLEAny submissions received in relation to the consultation being conducted by the Victorian Fisheries Authority will be published on the Authority’s website. In making a submission, unless the person making the submission indicates to the contrary, they will be consenting to their submission, including their name only, being published on the Authority's website for 90 days from the conclusion of the consultative process.

Closing date for submissions The closing date for the receipt of submissions for consultation on the draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021 will be 16 days after release of the draft Fisheries (Corner lnlet fishery) Notice 2021.

Consultation documents will be published on the VFA website and letters will be sent to key stakeholders seeking any comment on the proposed Notice.

The closing date for submissions will be 5pm, 29 December 2020.

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2021 Corner Inlet Fisheries Notice Consultation Plan

FLOW CHART OF CONSULTATION

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Draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021 (FN) developed for consultation and the CEO of the VFA approves the release of the draft FN for public consultation.

The FN will be placed on the VFA website seeking comment from the public

The consultation period finishes 29 December 2020. Any submissions received are placed on the VFA’s website.

The Policy team provide the CEO of the VFA with recommendations based on submissions received

CEO of the VFA approves the final FN

Final Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021 is published in the Gazette, advertised in the Age and the Herald Sun newspapers and uploaded onto the VFA website and letters to all key stakeholders.

A request for submissions on the draft notice will be sent to: Seafood Industry Victoria Futurefish VR Fish Corner Inlet Fishery Access

Licence holders

The consultation period will commence 14 December and end 29 December 2020

The consultation period commences 14 December 2020. Any submissions received are placed on the VFA’s website.

2021 Corner Inlet Fisheries Notice Consultation Plan 4

CONSULTATION PLAN

1 Consultation Title Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021

2 Representative group/s being consulted

Seafood Industry VictoriaVRFishFuturefishCorner Inlet Fishery Access Licence holders

3 Managing Officer Scott Lawrence (Manager Fisheries Policy)

4 Target Start Date 14 December 2020

5 Target End Date 29 December 2020

6 Background/ History See Attachment 1.

7 Relevant Statutory provision

Statutory consultation with stakeholders under Section 3A of the Fisheries Act 1995 is required prior to the Minister or delegate making decisions related to Fisheries Notices.

8 Purpose/objectives/scope To seek comment on the draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021

9 Method The draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021 will be placed on the VFA website.The Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021 will also be promoted via letters to the persons/groups noted in section 2 of this consultation planThe consultation period will extend for 16 days following the release of the draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021.

All consultation is expected to be completed by no later than 5pm on 29 December 2020.

10 Communication Plan Decisions regarding Fisheries Notice will be communicated through the notice being published in the Victoria Government Gazette and published in the Age and Herald Sun and on the VFA website.Letters informing stakeholders of the decision regarding the Fisheries Notice will be sent to all identified stakeholder groups listed above.

11 Information provision Stakeholders will be provided with a copy of the draft Fisheries Notice for consideration.

12 Resources/advice (inc. purchase of advice)

Internal resources of VFA.

13 Output (documentation / implementation)

The Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021; letters to stakeholders; notices published in the Victoria Government Gazette; the VFA website.

14 Publication of results of consultation

Any submissions received in relation to the consultation being conducted by VFA will be published on the VFA website. In making a submission, unless the person making the submission indicates to the contrary, they will be consenting to their submission, including their name only, being published on the VFA website for 90 days from the conclusion of the consultative process.

Consultation Plan prepared by:

Scott Lawrence

Manager Fisheries Policy

Approved

Dallas D’Silva

Director Fisheries Management and Science

Date: 14/12/2020

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2021 Corner Inlet Fisheries Notice Consultation Plan 5

Date: 14/12/2020

Attachment 1

Proposed Fisheries (Corner Inlet fishery) Notice 2021

The Corner Inlet commercial fishery has a long and proud history of sustainable management, driven by the fishers themselves. The fishery produces around 400 tonnes of fish per year, which has a landed catch worth about $8 million per annum. On top of this, the fishery brings significant tourism, economic and social value to the local region. Given this, it is important it remains sustainable and managed to world class standards.

Input controls such as a limited number of licences, gear restrictions and weekend restrictions are currently used to manage commercial fishing effort. However, the VFA recently introduced new laws to enhance the management of this significant fishery and has commenced the preparation of a management plan. The Plan is being developed in consultation with the Corner Inlet Steering Committee, Seafood Industry Victoria, Corner Inlet Fishery Access Licence holders, indigenous interests and VRFish and FutureFish on behalf of recreational fishers.

The VFA has recently been made aware that some operators are now using fishing practices that involve long lengths of rope on either end of the seine net and the use of winches and boats to tow seine nets through the water.

These practices significantly increase the area that can be fished and the amount of fish that can be taken by each seine net shot and have the potential to result in unsustainable levels of take. The use of long tow ropes may also pose a safety risk to other water users.

While the operation of a seine net in this manner is not currently prohibited, it is a shift from traditional fishing methods and is more akin to trawl fishing, which is not permitted in Corner Inlet.

This type of fishing is also inconsistent with the intent of the existing rules under the Fisheries Regulations 2019 which restrict Corner Inlet fishers from working both ends of the net at the same time with a boat (except for the final stage whereby the net is retrieved or hauled). This rule is designed to limit the area that can be swept by the seine net, which traditionally has been towed from one end in a circle and is an important measure to manage fishing effort.

These fishing practices were discussed at the first meeting of the Corner Inlet Steering Committee and were raised as a priority issue for resolution to ensure commercial fishing in the area remains sustainable and safe. A recent survey of licence holders indicated that most operators support reducing the length of rope permitted to be attached to the ends of the seine net. Management changes to return seine netting in Corner Inlet to more traditional practices, are also supported by Seafood Industry Victoria.

To address this issue, the VFA has released a draft Fisheries Notice for public comment. The draft Notice will prohibit the use of a seine net that does not have one end anchored, prohibit the use of more than 100 metres of rope or combination of ropes on the ends of seine nets and prohibit the movement of both ends of the seine net at the same time in Corner Inlet.

Corner Inlet commercial fishers are also being encouraged to review their current fishing practices to ensure they are not putting the health and safety of themselves, any employees or any other member of the public at risk.

Public comments on the draft Notice can be emailed to the VFA at scott.x.lawrence@vfa.vic.gov.au by no later than 5pm on Tuesday 29 December 2020.

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