Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance feel impact of fisheries job cuts

Concerns are growing about a rise in poaching and other illegal activity following cuts to fisheries officers position in East Gippsland.

East Gippslanders are chasing a compromise on recent savage statewide cuts to fisheries officer roles due to the region’s remote location.

A reduction in fisheries positions from nine to four in East Gippsland has been widely condemned and follows recent job losses in the region with Parks Victoria.

Previously there had been four fisheries officer positions at both Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance, where a regional manager was also based.

But as part of wider cuts of 50 per cent in overall Victorian Fisheries Authority staffing, there will only be two positions remaining at Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota, restricting their ability to work “two-up” at all times.

A surge in abalone poaching is one of the big fears of fisheries officer positions in Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance. Picture: Supplied

Mallacoota resident Jude Benton said the cuts would be felt in the region.

“The biggest thing is the safety issue,” she said.

“With only two people in a station all it takes is for one of them to be away and the other can’t do boat patrols by themselves.

“We’ve got a town that is financially dependent on an industry that will simply not have the people to patrol it.

“We really need three officers to do a good marine patrol and ensure there is no black market poaching (of abalone) which is way different to one person taking a few too many.”

Mallacoota has been left with only two fisheries officer positions following recent job cuts.

Gippsland East MP Tim Bull said his region had been left exposed to a rise in poaching.

“It is over two hours between Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota,” he said.

“When there is a need for urgent work, if one of those fisheries officers at either of those locations is on annual leave, sick leave, parental leave, long service leave or whatever leave they are on, they do not have two hours to travel between locations so that they can undertake that surveillance or enforcement work.

“They can’t do their jobs properly.

“The regional manager could provide some flexibility to this arrangement, but that job is also gone.”

The ability of Parks Victoria staff to “pick up the slack” has gone and Mr Bull is calling on the government for at least three fisheries officers at Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota.

Originally published as Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance feel impact of fisheries job cuts