Recreational Fishing Discussion Paper

Background

The Greater Alpine National Parks provides a unique mountain setting for recreational fishing in Victoria. Recreational fishing is an established and cherished activity in the Greater Alpine National Parks, highly valued amongst Victoria’s recreational fishing community. Enjoying one of the highest participation rates of any activity in the state, recreational fishing makes considerable contributions to the socioeconomic wellbeing of both the state and the community, providing an accessible way for many Victorians to connect with the natural environment.

Recreational fishing is enjoyed by over 550,000 Victorians each year and attracts many visitors from interstate, contributing some $400 million dollars annually to the Victorian economy (DPI 2009). As such it forms a significant part of “Victoria’s Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2008 – 2012” and is actively promoted and supported by various Victorian Government initiatives and polices.

Preliminary results from the study by Ernst & Young, Economic Value of Recreational Fishing in Victoria commissioned by VRFish, is expected to dramatically revise upwards both the participation rate and economic values of Recreational Fishing in Victoria as referred to in the 2006 Victorian Labor Party, “Recreational Fishing and Boating Policy”. The preliminary results are also due to be released in October of 2009 and will further highlight both the value and importance of recreational fishing in Victoria.

This discussion paper will detail the nature of recreational fishing and concludes with some further discussion points.

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Current Policy and Management Arrangements

The National Parks Act requires that Parks Victoria ‘preserve and protect’ the parks natural condition as well as cultural and other features. The Act also provides for the use of the parks by the public for enjoyment, recreation, education and appropriate research activities.

Recreational Fishing is a significant recreational activity within the Park and r egulations relating to freshwater fisheries and recreational fishing are managed by the Department of Primary Industry’s Fisheries Victoria. Fisheries Victoria manages the fisheries resource by developing and implementing policies and projects and delivering a wide range of services.

Fisheries Victoria’s Fish stocking for recreational purposes Stocking Priority Table has prioritised a number of waters for fish restocking of either salmonid or native fish species including: Macalister River (upper), Snowy River, Mount Beauty Pondage and Mitta Mitta River. Fisheries Victoria is also developing an Aboriginal Fishing Strategy to shape their approach to addressing Native Title, customary fishing, economic development opportunities, and increasing Aboriginal participation in fisheries management.

The water quality and health of the many rivers and streams is integral to recreational fishing opportunities in the alpine and eastern highlands areas. Climate change is anticipated to impact river flows and water quality (see Water and Catchments Discussion Paper). Fisheries Victoria has developed a number of policies relating to recreational fishing: Responding To The Impacts of Drought and its Consequences On Inland Recreational Fisheries and Fish Stocking for Recreational Purposes.

Fishing occurs in all waters in the planning areas with the exception of those located within Reference Areas where all forms of access by the public is restricted.

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Recreational Fishing values and experiences

The Greater Alpine National Parks contains most of Victoria’s iconic alpine streams, rivers and lakes. Recreational fishers have long understood that the quality of the habitat in the Park contributes directly to the quality of these recreational fisheries and the recreational fishing experience. As such recreational fishers value this environment highly and are committed its sustainable management.

The Greater Alpine National Parks lends itself to providing a broad range of experiences for recreational fishers encompassing small high plains and forested creeks, large, swift rivers and clear mountain lakes. The park area’s diversity allows for a variety of recreational fishing methods to be practiced, all of which are regulated by Fisheries Victoria to ensure sustainability.

Contemporary methods of recreational fishing have their roots in the post-settlement heritage period of the 1800’s providing an established connection for recreational fishers. The experience for traditional owners however goes back many more thousands of years. The alpine and eastern highland environments provided not only sustenance and trade; it also provided and continues to provide an important cultural connection for the traditional owners.

Recreational fishing in the parks offers an escape for those who seek remote fishing in wilderness areas as well as those who are content to unwind in more easily accessible destinations. The Recreational Fishing Code of Conduct developed by VRFish sets out desired conduct for fishers.

Many recreational fishing species exist with the planning area. Recreational fishers highly value brown and rainbow trout species and this is the reason why the Alpine area is considered by many to be the premier trout fishing destination in Victoria. Many important native recreational fishing species such as blackfish, Macquarie perch and Australian bass also exist within the planning area and provide an important native recreational fishing experience.

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Managing Recreational Fishing Impacts

Appropriate recreational activities within National Parks are important as they enable the community to experience and enjoy our many natural features. Parks Victoria is required to identify risks that may be associated with recreational activities and manage those risks to ensure that the impact or interference with the environment and other park users are minimised. Parks Victoria uses a risk management approach incorporating Levels of Protection and Levels of Service to assist decision-making in this regard.

Recreational fishing like other foot-based activities such as bushwalking, bird watching, trail runners and deer hunters can have an affect or impact on the natural environment. Impacts associated with foot based activities can include such things as trampling of vegetation, dispersal of weeds or bank erosion.

More accessible and highly frequented areas of national parks can experience greater pressures from recreational users however Parks Victoria are able to manage these impacts through designated trails and paths; signage and other management tools. The more remote areas of national parks typically experience fewer visitors who are much more dispersed. The reduction in visitor frequency generally reduces the pressure of associated recreational impacts.

Regulations relating to freshwater fisheries and recreational fishing are managed by the Department of Primary Industry’s Fisheries Victoria Division. Any change to recreational fishing policy would be outside of the scope of the review of this management plan.

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Opportunities for Recreational Fishers to participate in Park Management

Parks Victoria engages with VRFish, the Australian Trout Foundation, Native Fish Australia the Future Fish Foundation and the Australian Fishing Trade Association as some of the peak bodies representing recreational anglers in Victoria. There are also a diverse range of fishing clubs and associations. For more information regarding recreational fishing, visit the Department of Primary Industries website.

A Parks Victoria communique in conjunction with the recreational fishing community, Recreational Fishing and Park Management, recognises the importance and value of recreational fishing to Victoria.

Opportunities exist for recreational fishing groups, clubs, associations and individuals to participate in conservation and park management initiatives. Recreational fishers often frequent less visited areas of the Greater Alpine National Park and as such can provide valuable information for Park management by identifying and reporting landscape and environmental issues or risks that may affect either landscape features, or riparian or aquatic environments. In addition recreational fishers are able to record and report other observations that may contribute to an increased knowledge of the Greater Alpine National Park.

Recreational Fishers can also access grants such as Adopt a Stream, Recreational Fishing Grants Program and Small Events Grants (Fisheries Victoria) to improve and enhance recreational fishing opportunities within the Greater Alpine National Park.

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Directions

The major direction for recreational fishing is to work with key land managers and user groups to create sustainable fishing experiences.

Discussion Points

• How can recreational fishers and recreational fishing contribute to good management in the Greater Alpine National Parks?
• Are there any issues with recreational fishing in the Greater Alpine National Parks?
• In what ways could recreational fishing be enhanced in the Greater Alpine National Parks?

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Further Reading

Fisheries Victoria 2009 Recreational Fishing Guide 2009-2010 http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfaq.nsf/childdocs/-B43DB2A1BECEB2A04A256812001DD817-038067B67D8D0260CA2571F6007C592F?open

National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing, Recfish Australia http://www.recfish.com.au/docs/Recfish%20Australia%20NCOP%20brochure.pdf

Recreational Fishing Code of Conduct, VRFish http://www.vrfish.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111&Itemid=39

Responding To The Impacts of Drought and its Consequences On Inland Recreational Fisheries