The Act creates a framework for regulation, management, development and conservation of Victorian fisheries, aquatic habitats and ecosystems, aquaculture industries and associated aquatic biological resources. This framework applies to defined ‘Victorian waters,’ aquariums and hatcheries.

The Act aims to protect and conserve fisheries resources, habitats and ecosystems, and promote sustainable commercial fishing. The means in which the Act achieves these aims include;

• management plans may be created for declared fisheries. ‘Fisheries’ includes a species of fish or fishing bait, an area of land or waters, a method of fishing, a type of fishing equipment, a class of boats or a class of licences or permits;

• The Act creates various offences regarding fisheries;
  • creates offences in relation to aquatic biota;
  • creates offences for certain acts without a permit;

• Permits can be issued to allow take, injure, destroy, or hatch biota and species;

* Species may be declared to be a noxious aquatic species;

• Provides that any community of aquatic flora or fauna may be declared to be protected aquatic biota (excludes protected wildlife under Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic) and protected flora under Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic)) while any community of fish listed under Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic) are deemed to be protected aquatic biota;

• provides that any waters not protected under the National Parks Act 1975 (Vic) may be declared a fisheries reserve;

• establishes Fisheries Co-Management Council;

• licences are regulated by the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Panel;

The Act operates in conjunction with the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).

• View the whole Act online via Austlii
• The Fisheries Co-managment Council website