RECREATIONAL fishers and boaters will benefit from an enhanced fish stocking program and better access to Victorian fisheries, under an elected Liberal Nationals Government.
If elected, the party will implement a Nine Point Plan for Better Fishing Across Victoria, which includes establishing the new Blue Infrastructure Fund. The fund will return all revenue from boating fees back into better boat ramps, car parks and other boating infrastructure, free parking at boat ramps and no launching fees, a $30M Fish Habitat Restoration Fund to restore native fisheries throughout Victoria, the development of a Bay Strategy 2040 to guide the recreational, environmental, commercial and tourism use and regulation of Port Phillip Bay and working with key recreational fishing stakeholders to developing a Recreational Fishing Tourism Strategy for Victoria.
The plan also includes securing a sustainable future for the Gippsland Lakes with a voluntary buyback on commercial fishing licences and investigating restoration works to boost fish stocks, a new $7M fish hatchery at Shepparton to boost native fish stocks, exploring opportunities to improve access to existing, new and emerging fisheries, and ensuring fishing licence fee revenue is being used for maximum benefit to improve recreational fishing.
Leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy said “Fishing is a favourite pastime for hundreds of thousands of Victorians and their families and we want to make it even better.
“We’ve listened to boating and fishing groups with our commitment to return all boating fees back into better infrastructure and to establish a new fish hatchery in the Shepparton region.”
