Help Protect our Fish this Easter

Community and Public Sector Union - Victoria

Ahead of the upcoming Easter Long Weekend Break within the school holidays, the union for Victoria's Fisheries Officers has issued a respectful plea to all Victorians visiting our Bays, Lakes, and Waterways to help protect our Marine environment and respect the catch size and limits and report poaching, unlicensed anglers, and/or over fishing as the enforcement capabilities of this multi billion asset by our specialists is being decimated by the State Government.

Record number of Offenders on the Rise

The percentage of offenders detected per inspection is at a record high (10.11%) with increases in non-compliance, shown within official reporting, despite Fisheries Victoria proposing a reduction in compliance Officers.

The most recent reporting period (2023-24) has the lowest number of inspections (50,740 inspections, excluding marine park inspections) since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this, a record number of offenders were detected (5,131) for the period but Fisheries Victoria intend to slash fisheries officer jobs.

VRFish Survey

VRFish Survey on What's Important highlights Enforcement and Compliance as the highest and most important area for recreational fishing sector.

No Confidence Vote in CEO

As a result, 100% of Fisheries Officers Association (FOA) members voted “No I do not have confidence” in their CEO after having considered all the following impacts of the proposed decimation of fisheries:

1. The perceived deterioration of staff safety, wellbeing and culture at the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), indicated by the results of People Matters Surveys

2. The proposed reduction in Fisheries Officers despite increases in non-compliance as illustrated in VFA reporting

3. The proposed reduction in Fisheries Officers in conjunction with the increase in noncompliance and its impact on the VFA’s ability to meet objectives of relevant legislation, especially concerning sustainability

4. VFA's inability to adequately address the current stock levels of Victorian fisheries indicated by the Status of Australian Fish Stocks Report data

5. Feedback of members of the Fisheries Officers Association to their executive that the VFA has been unable to exemplify thorough and considered planning, indicated by VFA's responses and information provided for the proposed major change

6. The decline in public support of VFA’s approach to managing Victorian fisheries, indicated by the recent VR Fish survey

7. Feedback of members of the Fisheries Officers Association to their executive feeling unsupported by VFA and feeling that they have not been meaningfully consulted with by VFA.

There are serious concerns about the capacity of the Chief Executive Officer to manage and lead the Victorian Fisheries Authority.

Do you have confidence in the Chief Executive Officer to manage and lead the Victorian Fisheries Authority? VOTE outcome: 100% of the Fisheries Officers Association members voted “No I do not have confidence”