VICTORIAN Fishing Minister Sonya Kilkenny has been forced to back-pedal on a proposal giving government bureaucrats the power to ban recreational fishing in Kerang Regional Park.
VRFish, the recreational fishing peak body in Victoria, raised the alarm this week, after the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning released proposed regulation 409, which states Parks Victoria or any other government land manager “may set aside an area of a regional park where taking or attempting to take fish is prohibited or restricted.
“It is an offence … to take or attempt to take fish in an area of a regional park where taking or attempting to take fish is restricted unless doing so in accordance with the determination – 10 penalty units ($1849).”
The draft regulations provide for bans to recreational fishing on specified metropolitan and regional parklands such as the popular Kerang Regional Park, where many locals fish on the Loddon River.
Ms Kilkenny responded to alarmed anglers’ emails and calls this week by sending them texts stating “DELWP have miscommunicated and will rectify this situation immediately”.
According to the consultation document, banning children and families from fishing in metropolitan park lakes and river sections, will help “ensure the protection of the environment and cultural values to ensure safe and fair enjoyment”.
The regulations were drafted off the back of amendments introduced by Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio in 2016, where she made it clear during her second reading speech that “good land management includes deterring behaviour that threatens the health of these assets or presents a risk to public safety”.
VRFish chairman Rob Loats said families fishing in metropolitan and regional lakes did not increase the risk to public safety nor environment.
“Recreational fishing in the local lake is a safe and beneficial activity that creates treasured family memories,” Mr Loats said.
“Since 2015, recreational fishers have invested more than $2 million per year of recreational fishing licence fees into recreational fishing initiatives, including to boost family fishing in park lakes.
“This proposal is clearly an attack on recreational fishing and again shows how out of touch Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio is with local community values.”
VRFish is encouraging recreational fishers to email Premier Daniel Andrews or Ms Kilkenny, to inform them that children and families fishing in metropolitan park lakes is a healthy and beneficial activity that should be encouraged not banned.
