Animal welfare red tape: Fishing competitions under threat

Fishing clubs will have to comply with new animal welfare laws when running events or face penalties of up to $57,693. See the latest.

Fishing events, such as Victoria’s popular Tea tree Snapper Fishing Competition (pictured), will have to comply with new animal welfare regulations.

Victoria’s 300 angling clubs will be caught up in new animal welfare regulations, after the Allan Government failed to exempt fishing events from its new Animal Care and Protection Bill.

VRFish has warned any club that runs an event, whether organised to raise money or not, faces having to comply with new mandatory animal care regulations.

The Bill states “a person must not organise or arrange an event that wholly or partly involves animals in contravention of the regulations”, otherwise they face penalties of $11,539 for an individual or $57,693 for a body corporate.

Up until now all recreational fishing, from children landing their first catch to club competitions and game fishing, were exempt from animal welfare laws under the old Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, as long as they complied with the Fisheries Act 1995.

VRFish chief executive Ben Scullin said the recreational fishing lobby “made it very clear (to government) that going fishing was not animal cruelty and that the current legislative exemption for recreational fishing under the POCTA was to be carried across into the new legislation”.

“This was our only requirement to support the new legislation,” Mr Scullin said. “VRFish won’t be supporting this Bill unless an exception for recreational fishing is provided”.

The government was asked if it would amend the bill to exclude fishing events, with a spokeswoman simply stating: “We encourage all Victorians, including anglers, to have their say as part of our comprehensive consultation process to ensure that this important Bill and its supporting regulations best reflect the expectations of Victorians.”

It appears the Allan Government has succumbed to pressure from the RSPCA, the Greens and Animal Justice Party, by failing to exempt fishing events, exposing angling clubs to a raft of new animal care standards that will be enshrined in regulations once the Bill is passed.

RSPCA Australia already has a policy of opposing bluewater fishing for sport, “due to the inherent and significant risks of prolonged pain, injury, suffering and distress to the fish involved”.

The RSPCA, whose Victorian officers will have the power under the new bill to enforce its regulations, also supports “the compulsory regulation of a code of practice for the welfare of fish caught by angling, which is based on current evidence regarding the capacity of fish to experience pain and suffering”.

Game Fishing Association of Victoria president Stephen Taranto said “we’re concerned because events are a big part of what we do”, with 17 game clubs running events across the state.

VRFish chair Rob Loats said imposing animal welfare regulations and penalties would undermine fishing clubs that were already vulnerable after battling their way through Covid lockdowns.

Mr Loats said fishing competitions “hold clubs together”, allowing members to get out and enjoy a bit of camaraderie.