Herald Sun
Justin Smith

The FOs ensure anglers don’t take home bagfuls of undersized creatures to their air fryers, and preventing dodgy operators from ridding the world of abalone and crayfish, as well as policing boat safety. An essential job, you’d think.

But the VFA is preparing a new model that’s based more on “education and engagement” rather than compliance, and will mean mass redundancies of officers. Some with decades of experience. Apparently, compliance has been excellent in the last few years, so they’re not needed. But how long will that last once a few unscrupulous bastards with some burley figure out no one is watching them?

The Advertiser
Eddie Russell

Mr Townsend said that without fisheries officers, aquatic environments would be destroyed as a consequence of increased non-compliance.

According to the union, there is a 56 per cent offending rate in marine national parks, like the one in Point Lonsdale.

State deputy opposition leader Sam Groth said the proposed changes were nothing more than a “cost-cutting measure” that would fail on all fronts.

“These cuts mean fewer inspections, less oversight, and a greater chance of illegal fishing and environmental damage,” he said.

“It’s a slap in the face to the responsible fishers who do the right thing and expect the rules to be enforced fairly.”

The Age
Bianca Hall and Benjamin Preiss

Murray Donaldson, a 37-year veteran of Victoria’s fisheries sector who retired a decade ago as chief investigator, said: “In a very short period of time, this commodity will attract organised crime.”

“I can see similarities with what’s occurring with black market tobacco,” Donaldson warned.

“You could envisage that people will quickly organise to harvest the fish and then control the distribution of that fish. This might sound a bit dramatic, but we could see in the future, fish and chip shops getting firebombed, not [just] tobacco shops.”

Sentinel-Times
Nicole May
“These cuts mean fewer inspections, less oversight, and a greater chance of illegal fishing and environmental damage. It’s a slap in the face to the responsible fishers who do the right thing and expect the rules to be enforced fairly.”

“The Liberal and Nationals will always stand with recreational fishers and boaters to ensure sustainable fish stocks, responsible management of our marine environments, and safe, well-regulated waterways,” Mr Groth said

Victorian National Parks Association
Shannon Hurley

Ms Hurley said the cuts would severely impact the protection of iconic Victorian marine species.

“These officers are our eyes and ears on the water, protecting vulnerable species like Giant Spider Crabs during their shallow water migrations, abalone in our intertidal zones, and snapper in our bays. Without adequate enforcement, these species face devastating risks from illegal and unregulated fishing.”

The cuts to fisheries officers follow significant reductions across other environmental protection agencies, with Parks Victoria facing $95 million in budget cuts and an estimated 100 job losses, while the Office of the Conservation Regulator has already lost 33 staff.

Sentinel-Times
Michael Giles

In State Parliament on Tuesday night this week, February 18, Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath raised the issue in the Adjournment Debate in the Legislative Council.

“The action I seek from the minister is to outline how this government intends to regulate frontline fisheries compliance, create positive education and protect our marine environments.”

Ms Bath went on to say that effective regulation of the marine environment works to ensure that fishing, both recreationally and commercially, remains sustainable and provides maximum value for the community.