Viae-mailto:

21/4/17

MelissaSchubert

TheRockLobsterFisheryManager GPOBox4509

Melbourne, 3001 Victoria

Re: Rock lobstertagging draft fisheries notice DearMelissa,

TheSCUBA Divers Federation of Victoria (SFDV)is apeak bodywhichrepresents the recreational fishers whoscuba-dive for rock lobster, and wehaveparticipated as akey stakeholdermemberofthe rock lobstertagging WorkingGroup, aswellas having alonghistory ofinvolvement with themanagement oftheVictorian rock lobsterfishery. As always, we appreciateourcontinuedinvolvement in thestakeholder consultation process and hope wecan continueto makeavaluable contribution.

TheSDFVdoes not support theintroduction ofarock lobstertaggingtrial at this time.Wedo not believeasufficientlythoroughand recent process has beenfollowed todecideon taggingas thebest method forrecreational catch estimation. Weurgeastep back, and a formal consultativeprocess beundertaken to evaluaterock lobster catchestimation methods.

When invited to participatein theWorkingGroupmid-2016, we weresurprised that tagginghad been selected as themechanism for recreational catch estimation without stakeholder consultation on otheroptions, but we engaged ingood faith.Afterseveral initial Working Group meetings, therefollowed aperiod (overChristmas/New Year)ofseveral months with no WorkingGroup meetingsor communication.Howeverin January,and with no noticeto the WorkingGroup members, aletter was sent from the ActingExecutive DirectorofFisheries to VRFish(of which SDFVis amember)seekingcomment on sixproposed fisheries regulation changes -theseincludedwhat appeared to beapermanent rock lobstertaggingscheme with significantelements at odds with thediscussions oftheWorkingGroup. This letteris included with thesubmission as AppendixB.TheWorkingGroup expressedgraveconcernsat theidea that this sort ofsubstantial regulation change would be consideredwithout goingthrough an RIS process.

Following ameetingwith theWorkingGroupand Executive DirectorofFisheries Victoriato straighten things out, it was agreed that themechanism forthetrial would bebyFisheries Notice, not byregulationchange.Wethankyou forthis.Clarifications weremadeand communication issues addressed, andwetook theopportunityto discuss whytagginghad been selected. Subsequentlyat our request, aletter wasprovided bythe Executive Directordetailing howtaggingwas selected overotherestimation methods. Theletteris included with this submission as Appendix C. It does not appearthat anyscientificor formalprocess was followed to arriveat this conclusion, and as suchwesuggest thebest courseof action is to completethis beforeimplementingataggingtrial.

However, subject to someminor changes to thedraft Fisheries Notice,weareprepared to

continuein our roleon the rock lobstertaggingWorkingGroup and work co-operativelywith thegroupto ensurethetaggingtrial providesa reliable estimateoftherecreational catch, and is as practical as possible forthe fishers it is imposed upon.

An SDFV-commented markup ofthedraftFisheries Noticeis included with this submission as AppendixA- wehavegoneto agood deal ofeffort to workshop changes which should forthe most part be easilyacceptedbyFisheriesVictoriaand bytheWorkingGroup -minimisingthe burden on recreational fishers (and thus maximisingaccuracyand compliance).

It is particularlykeyto rememberthat anytagwhich is unaccountedfor will be assumed to have to been used on alobster. Thus even ifno tags were reported, there wouldbea reasonable estimateofthe recreational catch,albeit an over-estimate.

Ourkeyissues with thedraft Fisheries Notice(allof which are addressedbythesuggested SDFV changes)are:

1.Thenoticeshould explicitlystatethis is atrial:

a.In title/preamble

b.Specifyend datefortrial(ie. 30th June2020)

2.Penalties areexcessivelylarge foratrial(and complianceis alreadycovered byexisting tail clippingpenalties). Ie.20 penaltyunits forfailingto tagis apotential $3k fine.

3.Parameters ofthetrial shouldbe established before and remain unchangedduringthe trial, and theCEOshould not be ableto request (asyet undefined)additional information (byamethod orprocessyet undefined)about thetakingoftherock lobsterwhich is not directlyrelated to thepurposeofthetrial.(That is, who, what, where, when, etc. arenot necessaryelements ofatrial to estimatethe recreational catch of rock lobsterin Victoria.

4.Reportingrequirements:

a.We arehappyto report atagwas used, andan east/west location, but strongly believe anythingelseis unnecessary(andwill likelyproducebogus data/dissuade reporting).

b.This is especiallythe case fortagserial numbers

5.Transferrabilityoftags -this is akeyissue forourmembers.To increase convenience, compliance andreporting, it is important thatyoucan provideoneofyourtags to amate you are fishingwith.

a.Wesuggest that whoeveracquired thetaghas theresponsibilityof reportingit.

Theymaysupervisea friend theyaredivingwithwho has no tags.(In the suggested SDFV changesofthedraftFisheriesNotice, this is implemented exactlythesameas fishingwith aminor).

Asthechangestothenoticearelikelytobesignificant,andthishasbecomeacharged issue,wewouldrecommendthatafinaldraftbeformallyissuedforfinalconsultation beforebeingenacted.

As always, thank-you fortheopportunityto formallycomment.We look forward to workshoppingchanges totheFisheriesNoticein thenext WorkingGroupmeeting.

Stephen Fordyce, Chairperson, and

Vice-President – Statutory

SCUBA DiversFederation of Victoria, Inc.

Appendix A:SDFVsuggested changes and comments on thedraftfisheries notice.

FisheriesAct1995

FISHERIESNOTICE2016

I,TravisDowling,ExecutiveDirectorFisheries,asdelegate oftheMinisterforAgricultureandhavingundertakenconsultationinaccordancewithSection3AoftheFisheriesAct1995(theAct),makethefollowingFisheriesNoticeunderSection152oftheAct:

Date://2017

TravisDowling

ExecutiveDirectorFisheries

FISHERIES(ROCKLOBSTERTAGGINGTRIAL)NOTICE2017

1.Title

ThisNoticemaybecitedastheFisheries(RockLobsterTaggingTrial)Notice2017.

2.Objectives

Theobjectives ofthisNoticeareto

(a)specifymeasuresfortheprotectionofrocklobsterthroughtheintroductionofatrial

taggingsystemtoquantifytherecreationaltake ofrocklobster;and

(b)fixand enforcecatch limits forrocklobsterthatarepossessedbyafisherwithout theuseofarocklobstertag.

3.Authorisingprovision

ThisNoticeismadeundersections68Aand152oftheAct.

4.Commencement

ThisNoticecomesintooperationon1July2017.

5.Application

Thisnoticedoesnotapplyto–

(a)apersonactingunderaRockLobsterFishery AccessLicence;or

(b)anauthorisedofficeroremployeeoftheVFAintheexecutionofapower,functionofdutyundertheAct.

6.Definitions

(1)InthisFisheriesNotice:

“CEO”meansthechiefexecutiveofficeroftheVFA;

“fishingseason”meansaperiodcommencingon16Novemberand endingonthefollowing15September;

“rocklobstertag”meansatagissuedbytheVFAforattachingtorocklobstertakenfornon-commercialpurposes;

“tagnumber”meanstheuniqueidentificationnumberstampedonorotherwiseaffixedtoarocklobstertagbytheVFA;

Comment[SF1]:Importanttoexplicitlystatethisisatrial.

1

“theAct”meanstheFisheriesAct1995;

“unusedrocklobstertag” meansatagthathasnotbeenattachedto arocklobster,andisnotbroken orotherwisedamaged;

“useatag”meansattachthetagtoarocklobsterinsuchamannerthatthetagcannotberemovedwithoutbeingbroken;

“VFA”meanstheVictorianFisheriesAuthority.

(2)Despitesub-clause(1)the 2017/2018fishingseasonmeanstheperiodcommencingon1July2017andendingonthe15September 2018.

7.Issueandexpiryofrocklobstertags

(1)TheVFAmayissueoneormorerocklobstertagstoapersonif–

(a)thepersonappliesforrocklobster tagsinaformapprovedbytheCEO;and

(b)thetotalnumberofunusedrocklobstertagsintheperson’spossessionatanyonetimedoesnotexceed12;and

(c)thepersonhasprovidedareportinaccordancewithclause8(1)forallrocklobstertagspreviouslyissuedtothatperson.

(2)RocklobstertagsremainthepropertyoftheVFA.

8.Reportingrequirements

(1)For each rock lobster tag issued to a person, the person must report the followinginformationtotheVFAinthemannerrequiredbytheCEO–

(a)thetagnumber;

(b)(a)whether thetagwasused, lostornotused;

(c)anyotherparticularsregarding thetakingofrocklobsterbythe personthattheCEOrequires.

(2)Areportundersub-clause(1)mustbemadenolaterthanmidnighton15Novembertoenableapersontobeeligibletoreceivetags for thenextfishingseason.

Penalty:20penaltyunits

9.Useofapprovedrocklobstertags

(1)Apersonmustnottakeorattempttotakerock lobsterunless–

(a)thepersonpossessasleastoneunusedrocklobstertagissuedforthe currentfishingseason;or

(b)thepersonisunder theage of18yearsandisdirectlysupervisedbyapersontowhomparagraph(a)applies;or.

(b)(c)thepersonisdirectlysupervisedbyapersontowhomparagraph(a)applies

Penalty:0.520penaltyunits.

(2)Apersonwhotakesrocklobstermustapplyarocklobster tagtotherocklobster–

(a)iftherocklobsteriscaughtbyanymeansfromaboat,within5minutesafterbeingbroughttotheboatorbeforetherocklobsterislanded,whichever issooner;or

(b)subject tosub-clause(3),iftherocklobsteriscaught byany means otherthanfromaboat–

(i)within5minutesafterbeingtaken;or

(ii)beforetherock lobsterisput intoanybasket,bag orreceptacle;or

Comment[SF2]:Formofissuingtagsshouldbeexplicitlyspecified

Comment[SF3]:Mannerofreportingforthetrialshouldbeexplicitlyspecified

Comment[SF4]:Theonlyrelevanceforthisisforpreventingtransferrabilityof tags,whichisakeyonerousaspectofthetrial.

Comment[SF5]:Anyotherreportingparticularsshouldbeexplicitlystated.Ie.East/Westisacceptable.Sizeestimateisnot(contributestobogusdata)

Comment[SF6]:Accordingtotheoriginalclause,apersonwhoforgottoreportcouldnotfishforlobsteratallinthenextseason.

Comment[SF7]:Changestoaboveclause(ie.reportingforpreviousseasonmustbedonebefore newtagscanbereceived)isincentiveenough.Failuretoreportresultsinanoverestimate(thusconservative)ofcatch.

Formatted:ListParagraph,Right:0cm,Linespacing:single,Nobulletsornumbering,Tabstops:Notat2.72cm

Comment[SF8]:Keytransferrabilityenabler

Comment[SF9]:Allpenaltyunitschangedfrom20to0.5.It'satrial- penaltyunitsshouldbemodest.Allissuesrelatedtotakeofrocklobsteraredealtwithbyexisting(ie.tailclipping)regulation.

2

(iii)beforetherocklobsterentersanypremisesorvehicle;or

3

(iv)within50metres oftheplacewheretherocklobsterislanded–whicheverissoonermostpractical.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

(3)Sub-clause(2)(b)(i)or(ii)doesnotapply iftherocklobsteristakenbyapersonengagedinunderwaterdivefishinguntiltherocklobster is landed.

(4)Apersonmustnotremovearocklobsterfromthepointoflandingunless a rocklobstertagisattachedtotherocklobster.

Penalty:20penaltyunits.

(5)(4)Apersonmustnotattacharocklobstertagtoarocklobsterunlessthetagwas issuedbytheVFAfor useinthefishingseasonin whichtherocklobster istaken.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

Comment[SF10]:Fishersdivingfromtheshorearelikelytobemorethan50mwalkfromtheircar,whichisthemostlogicalplacetostoretags(theywillbetooeasytoloseiftakenunderwater)

Comment[SF11]:Seepreviouscomment

(6)(5)Arocklobstertagmustbeattachedinsuchamannerthatitcannotberemovedwithoutbeingbroken.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

(7)(6)Apersonmustnotpossessarocklobsterthatdoesnot haveatagattachedunless–

(a)therocklobster taghasbeenremovedforthepurposesofconsumingtherocklobsterandtheremovedrocklobstertagisintheperson’spossession;or

(b)therocklobsterareaccompaniedbyarocklobsterreceiptororiginalrocklobstercatchdisposalrecordissuedinrespectofthatrocklobster.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

(8)(7)Apersonmustnotsell,alter, deface,mutilateorreusearocklobstertag,exceptforremoving tocookthelobster.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

(9)(8)Apersonissuedwitharocklobstertagmustnotgive,lendortransferthatrocklobstertagtoanyotherpersonunlesstheotherperson–

(a)isundertheageof18yearsandisdirectlysupervisedbytheperson;andor

(b)isdirectlysupervisedbytheperson.Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

Comment[SF12]:Keytransferrabilityenabler.

(10)(9)Apersonmustnotuseorpossessarocklobstertagissuedtoanotherpersonunlesstheperson–

(a)isundertheageof18yearsandisdirectlysupervisedbytheperson;or;and

(b)isdirectlysupervisedbytheperson.Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

Comment[SF13]:Keytransferrabilityenabler.

10.Tags notto bereused

(1)Apersonmustnotusearocklobster tagthathaspreviouslybeenattachedtoarocklobsteror thatisbroken.

Penalty:200.5penaltyunits.

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(2)Thisclausedoesnotpreventapersonfromre-attachingatagtotherocklobsterifthetag fallsofftherocklobster.

11.ProductionofTagswhenrequired

Anauthorisedofficermayrequireapersontoproduceanyunusedtagsintheirpossessionforinspection.

Note:itisanoffenceundersection111(2)(i) oftheActtocontraveneorfailtocomplywithanylawfulrequirementofanauthorisedofficer.Apenaltyof20penalty unitsapplies.

12.Possessionlimitforrocklobsterthatdoesnothaveatagattached

(1)ForthepurposesoftheAct,thecatchlimitwithrespecttothepossessionofrocklobsteranywhereinVictoriathatdoesnothavearocklobstertagattachedinaccordancewithclause8iszero.

Note: Regulation 324 of the Fisheries Regulations 2009 prescribes other catch limits with respect torocklobster.

(2)Sub-clause(1)doesnotapplytoaperson–

(a)whopossessesrocklobsterinaccordancewithregulation324(2)oftheFisheriesRegulations2009;or

(b)iftherocklobstertaghasbeenremovedforthepurposesofconsumingtherocklobsterandtheremovedrocklobstertagisintheperson’spossession;or

(c)therocklobsterareaccompaniedbyarocklobsterreceiptororiginalrocklobstercatchdisposalrecordissuedinrespectofthatrocklobster.

13.Applicationtofisheriesreserves

Forthepurposesofsection152(4)oftheAct,thisnoticeappliestoallfisheriesreserves.

14.Revocation

Unlesssoonerrevoked,thisNoticewillberevoked12 monthsafter itcameintooperation.

Thetrialtaggingsystemistoexpireon30thJune2020(orsooner),andathoroughstakeholderconsultationprocesswillbeundertakenpriortoanysubsequentfisheriesnoticesortaggingschemes

fortherecreationalrocklobsterfishery.Comment[SF14]:Keystakeholder

reassurance-thatthetrialisactuallyfor3yearsaspromised,andwedon'tendupwithasituationsimilartoabalone.

5

Submission ontherock lobster tagging draft fisheries notice

Appendix B:17/1/17 letterfromActing Executive Directoron six proposed fisheries regulation changes (inc. rock lobster tagging)

Page4SDFV,Inc

DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment, Jobs,TransportResources

MrRobLoatsChair,VRFishPOBox538

WILLIAMSTOWN Victoria 3016

DearMrLoats

Re:FisheriesAmendmentRegulations2017

GPOBox4509

Melbourne Victoria3001Australia

Telephone:0392083333

ox210074

FisheriesVictoriaisproposingtoamend theFisheriesRegulations2009andisseekingyourcommentontheproposedchanges.Thechangeswill:

•supportimplementationoftheGovernment'sTargetOneMillionelectioncommitmenttoprohibitnettinginrivermouthsoftheGippslandLakesandim·plementationofthebroaderrecommendationsofMrCraigIngram'sreporttoGovernment;

•allowWrasse(Ocean)FisheryAccessLicencestobetransferred;

•create ataggingschemetoquantifyrecreationaltake ofrocklobster;

•reflectrecentchangestotheTraditionalOwnerSettlementAct2010(TOSAct);

•transferrelevantregulatory functionstotheVictorianFisheriesAuthority(VFA);and

•progressanumberofadministrativeimprovements.

Atableisattachedoutliningtheproposedamendmentsandtherationaleforeachchange.I wouldwelcomeyourconsiderationandfeedback onanyoftheseproposedchanges.

Ifyouwouldliketodiscusstheproposedamendmentsinmoredetail,pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeon{03)83926846orviaemailat:dallas.d'seprovideanyfeedbackyou mayhavebynolaterthan10February 2017.

Yours sincerely

ActingExecutiveDirectorFisheriesVictoria

17I 1 / 2017

SUMMARYOF PROPOSED CHANGESTOTHEFISHERIESREGULATIONS2009

Proposal / Rationale
1.Deliveronthecommitmentto bancommercialnettingin rivermouthsof theGippslandLakesandthebroaderrecommendationsofMrCraigIngram’sreport / 1.1 / Expandthecommercialequipmentexclusionzonesaroundrivermouths,aspertheboundaries outlinedinMrCraigIngram’sreporttoGovernment. /
DeliversontheTargetOneMillionelectioncommitmenttobancommercialnettinginrivermouthsoftheGippslandLakes.
Expectedtoprovidebenefitstorecreationalfishersthroughincreasedavailabilityoffishstocks.
Localtourism, retailersandrecreational baitand tackle businessesthat support recreationalfishersarealsoexpected tobenefitfromincreasedpatronage(andpotentialrevenueincreases),duetothepotentialincreaseinavailabilityoffishstocksforrecreationalfishers.
1.2 ProhibitthecommerciallandingandsaleofAustralianbass. / Willassistintherecoveryofthis speciesand supportre-stockingandhabitatimprovementprojects.
Expectedtoprovidebenefitstorecreationalfishersthroughincreasedavailabilityofbass.
1.3 Requiremarkingofeitherendofallmeshnetswithasphericalorangebouymeasuringnolessthan250mmindiameterandrequireorangebouys nolessthan150mmindiameternogreaterthan100metersapartalongthelengthofallmesh nets. / Ensuresnetsareclearlyvisibleto otherwaterusers.ThiswillimproveboatingsafetyontheGippslandLakes.
1.4 RequireEFALandGLBFALholderstomarkanypots,trapsornetssetintheGippslandLakeswithawhitesphericalfloatmeasuringnolessthan250mmindiameter. / Ensuresnetsareclearlyvisibleto otherwaterusers.ThiswillimproveboatingsafetyontheGippslandLakes.
EnablesmembersofthepublictodistinguishbetweennetsusedbyGLFALholdersandothercommercialfishersintheGippslandLakes.
2.Allowcommercialwrasselicencestobetransferred / 2.1 / AllowWrasse(Ocean) FisheryAccesslicencestobetransferredandleased. / Enableslicenceholders totrade, sellorleasethelicenceandtoengagepersonswhomayoperatethelicenceontheirbehalf.
FeesandleviesforWrasse(Ocean)FisheryAccesslicenceswillbeadjustedtocover costs ofmanagement.Thiswillresultina$40paincreaseforeachlicenceholder.ThischangewillbemadeaspartofaseparateregulatorychangepackagethatwillamendtheFisheries(Fees,LeviesandRoyalties)Regulations2008.
Amanagementstrategywillbedevelopedinconsultationwithindustrytocoincidewiththeintroductionoflicencetransferability.
This strategywillincludepre-determinedmanagementactions thatwillbeundertakeninresponsetosubstantialincreases infishing
catchandeffort,tohelpmanageanysustainabilityconcerns.Licenceholderswillalsoberequiredtomeasureandsexallfishcaughtandrecorddetailedinformationonthelocationofcatchestoprovidefurtherinformationforthemanagementofthisfishery.Theseactionsdonotrequireregulatoryamendmentsandwillbemanagedadministratively.
3.Createtaggingschemefortherecreationaltakeofrocklobster / 3.1 / RequireapplicationforrocklobstertagsinthemannerspecifiedbytheSecretary. / Establishesthe needforrecreationalfisherstoobtaintags,regardlessofwhethertheyareexemptfromtherequirementtopossessaRecreationalFishingLicence.
3.2 ExemptcommercialfishersandtraditionalownersoperatinginaccordancewithaNaturalResourceAgreement,fromtheneedtoobtaintags. / Ensuresthetaggingregimeisrestrictedtorecreationalfishers.
3.3 Establishthatrocklobstertagsareonlyvalidfortheyearinwhich theywereissued. / Setsatimeframeforthevalidity oftags.
3.4 Createanoffencetoattempttotakerocklobsterwithout havingrocklobstertagsinpossession. / Ensuresfishers donotcommencefishingwithoutfirstobtainingtags.
3.5 Createoffenceto beinpossessionofrecreationallytakenrocklobsterunlesstagattached. / Ensurespersonsfoundwithanuntaggedrocklobstercan beprosecuted.
3.6 Createoffenceforfailingtoattachataginthemannerspecified. / Ensurestagsareattached inawaythatensurestheycannotberemoved,tamperedwithorre-used.
3.7 Createanoffencetoremoverocklobsterfrom the pointoflanding unlessatagisattached. / Ensures tagsareattached torock lobster. Createstheincentive totag rock lobster. This regulationwill beconsistentwiththecurrentrequirementfortailmarking.
3.8 Specifytherequireddetailsthatmustbe providedwhen reportingrocklobstertag use. / Ensuresthatfishersprovidecorrectinformationwhenreporting.
3.9 Createanoffencetoalter,deface orreusearocklobstertag. / Ensurestagsarenotalteredortamperedwithandthatfalsetagsarenotused.
3.10Establishamaximum possession limitof12unusedandunreportedtagsforanindividualrecreationalfisher. / Thetotalnumberoftagsavailableperyearwillnotbelimited,howeverlimitingthe‘batchsize’enablesthenumberoftagsincirculationtobemanagedmoreeffectivelyandefficiently.
3.11Createan offencetotransferarocklobstertagtoanyotherperson,withthe exceptionofchildrenundertheageof18whoare underdirectsupervisionofanadultwhopossesstags. / Ensurestagsarenotredistributedbetweenfishersandforcesfisherstoapplyfortags(andsubsequentlycompletethereportrequirement)inthefollowingyear.
3.12Specifythattobeeligiblefortagsineachsubsequentyear,anindividualmustreportagainsteachtagassignedtothembyaspecifieddateaftertheconclusionoftheprevious12-month period. / Ensuresthatalltags distributedwithineach12-monthcyclecanbeaccountedfor(tagscanbenominatedas used,lost,damaged,ornotused)therebyimprovingtheaccuracyofcatchestimates.
4.Transfer
relevantregulatoryfunctionstoVFA / 4.1MakeanumberofamendmentstotransferrelevantregulatoryfunctionstotheVFA. /
AllchangeswillalignwiththeconsequentialamendmentstotheFisheriesAct1995andtheobjectives,powersandfunctionsoftheVFA(assetoutintheVFAAct2016).
Theproposedchangeswillsubstitutereferencestothe“Secretary”with“VictorianFisheriesAuthority”,forallregulatoryfunctionsthatwillbe theresponsibilityoftheVFAasof1July2017.
5.Reflectrecentchanges totheTOSAct / 5.1MakeanumberofamendmentstoreflectrecentchangestotheTOSAct. / Asof1May2017,traditionalowneraccesstofishresourceswillbeenlivenedthroughNaturalResourceAgreements(NRAs)ratherthantheFisheriesRegulations2009.
TheDepartmentofJusticeandRegulationrecentlyrequestedthattheFisheriesRegulations2009beamendedtoalignwiththesechanges.
The proposedchangeswillreplaceexistingregulatoryexemptionsfortraditionalownersunder theFisheriesRegulations2009withabroadexemptionthat“turnsoff”relevantregulatoryoffenceswherethetraditionalownerisactinginaccordancewithanNRAandonlandsubjectto theNRA.
6.Administrativeamendments / 6.1Revisetheblacklipandgreenlipabalonesizelimitzonestoreflectrevisedboundariesforthewesternzone. / Correctsarecentdraftingerrorthatinadvertentlyincreasedtheminimumsizelimitforthetakeofabaloneto13cmbetweenthemouthoftheHopkinsRiverandLorne.Thechangewillcorrectthe sizelimitinthisareato12cm.
6.2Createaminimumsizelimitforthecommercialtakeand possessionofduskyflathead. / Correctsarecentdraftingerrorthatinadvertentlyincreasedtheminimumsizelimitofduskyflatheadto30cmforcommercialfishers.
Thechangewillcorrectthesizelimitto27cm.
6.3AllowcommercialabalonefisherstolandcatchatPointRoadknight. / Administrativechangethatwillenablecommercialabalonefisherstolandcatchatanadditionalport.Thiswillhelpreducefishingcosts.
6.4AllowtheScallopDive(PortPhillipBay)licenceholdertolandcatchattheWilliamstownandPortarlingtonBoatRamps. / Administrativechange thatwillenable theScallopDive(PortPhillipBay)licenceholder tolandcatchatadditional ports.Thiswill helpreducefishingcosts.
6.5Amendregulation27toread“eligibility"insteadof"eligibilty". / Administrativechangetocorrectaspellingmistake.
6.6Amendregulation117toallowrecreationaltakeofuptofivegemfish perday. / Reducesregulatoryburden byallowingtakeofthisspeciesbyrecreationalfishers.
6.7ExemptauthorisedofficersactinginthecourseoftheirdutiesfromspecifiedoffencesundertheAct,iftheactionisreasonablynecessarytoavoidlossofhuman life, injurytoany person, damagetopropertyorforanimalwelfare. / Enablesenforcementofficerstoimmediatelydispatchfishforhumansafetyoranimalwelfarereasonswithouttheneedtoobtainapermitandwithoutfearofprosecution.Thisisparticularlyimportantinemergencysituationssuchassharkattack.
6.8Defineelectricfishingreelsasrecreationalfishingequipment. / Authorisesuseofelectricreelsbyrecreationalfishers.

Submission ontherock lobster tagging draft fisheries notice

Appendix C:2/3/17 letterfromExecutiveDirectoron theprocess ofchoosing tagging over othermethods.

Page5SDFV,Inc

DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,Jobs,TransportandResources

GPOBox4509

MelbourneVictoria3001Australia

Telephone:0396519999

ox210074

MrStephenFordyceChair

SCUBA DiversFederationofVictoriaGPOBox1705

MELBOURNE VIC 3001

ROCKLOBSTERTAGGINGPROGRAMFORRECREATIONALFISHERS

Thankyouformakingthetime tomeetwithus·on16March2017 andforyourvaluablecontributiontothe conversation. Aswediscussedonthenight,thegoalofthetaggingprogramistogetamuchbetterhandleon howmany lobstersrecreationalfisherscatchtomakesurewehaveagreatfisheryforthefuture.

Themainoutcomesfromthemeetingon16March2017wereagreementfromallparticipantsoftheneedtoobtaindataontheannualrecreationalcatchofrocklobsterandthevaluethisdatawillprovideforstockassessments.Iconfirmedourintentiontoimplementthetaggingprogramasathree-yearpilot.WealsoagreedtoyourrequesttogowithaFisheriesNoticeratherthanregulationsforthepilot.

There hasbeendebateforovertenyearsonhowwecountrocklobster.Wewentwithtagsratherthanthese optionsasthebestwayforward:

1.Phonesurvey:

•UsingthecurrentRecreationalFishingLicence(RFL)database,thereisnocurrentmethodforidentifying rocklobsterfishersfromthebroaderlistofRFLholders.Further,thereiscurrentlynowaytoidentifythosewhofishforrocklobsterbutwhoarealsoexemptfromtheneedtopossessaRFL.

2.Emailsurvey:

•Anumberofyearsago,FisheriesVictoriaconductedavoluntaryemailsurveyoftheRFLdatabasethatsoughtfeedbackfromfishersontheircatchofabalone,rocklobsterandscallop.Thesurveydidnotproduceany resultsthatcouldbeconsideredscientificallydefensible.

3.SeparaterocklobsterlicenceorarocklobsterendorsementonanRFL:

•Theoptionofeitherastand-alonerocklobsterlicenceortheadditionof species-specific endorsementwillcreatemoreredtapewithrespecttolicensingregulations. Neitheroptiongivesadirectrocklobstercatchestimate;itsimplyprovidesacontactlistidentifyingthosefisherswhomayfishforrocklobster.

4.Rocklobstertag:

•Ataggingsystem,withreportingrequirements,willprovideclearanddirectrecordofcatch.

•Anonlinetaggingscheme,onceestablished,canbereasonablyself-managedandeasyforfisherswhilstprovidingstrongdata.

Thanksagainforthevaluablecontributionyouandyourmembershavemadetothisprocesssofar. Ilookforwardtoworkingtogethertoachieveareallygood outcomefromthisprogramthatwillproviderobustdataandanimproved relationshipbetween allsectorsutilisingthe rocklobsterresource.

IhaveenclosedtheKeyConceptdocumentforyourreferenceandwehavealsowrittentoVRFishandtheVictorianSpearfishingCommissiontoprovidethisinformation. ThedraftFisheriesNoticewillbedistributedforconsultationwithinthenextfewweeksandIlookforwardtoworkingwithyouasthepilotprogramisimplementedoverthenextthreeyears.

Yourssincerely

TravisDowlingExecutive DirectorFisheriesVictoria

2/3/17

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