Caught out: VFA blocks own scientists surveying anglers’ catch

The VFA has undermined its own scientists’ attempts to assess how many fish recreational anglers harvest each year.

Just how many fish recreational anglers catch in Victoria has not been assessed for more than 20 years.

Victorian Fisheries Authority directors have blocked their own research scientists’ efforts to conduct surveys into the sustainability of anglers’ catch.

The move has stunned both commercial and recreation fishers, who had backed the VFA researchers’ efforts to assess just how many marine and estuarine species anglers are harvesting – from snapper to gummy shark and Western King George whiting.

While other states conduct regular surveys, the VFA researchers’ application states: “the last statewide scientific assessment of Victorian recreational catches was undertaken more than two decades ago.

“The need for regular statistically robust estimates of total recreational catch is crucial to the sustainable management of fisheries.”

In other states surveys of the recreational catch have led to seasonal closures of some fisheries, including South Australia’s snapper fishery.

But just as the research proposal was about to come before the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s Victorian Research Advisory Committee on September 1, the VFA’s leadership pulled the project – overriding its own scientists.

“My understanding is that the VFA representative informed (FRDC’s) Victorian Research Advisory Committee at the start of its most recent meeting that … it was no longer a priority,” Seafood Industry Victoria chair Joanne Butterworth-Gray said.

“SIV Board expresses disappointment at the lost opportunity for improved evidence in decision-making on fishery management.”

Recreational fishing lobby VRFish backed the research, with a spokesman saying the VFA was obliged under the Fisheries Act to manage fisheries in an “ecologically sustainable manner”.

Fisheries Minister Sonya Kilkenny and the VFA leadership refused to answer questions on why they pulled the project, simply stating “Victoria’s fisheries are the most sustainably managed in Australia”.

However one Labor Party insider said the government was systematically quashing anything that could lose it votes in the lead-up to the November 26 state election, especially when it came to fishers and boaters in the sand-belt seats southeast of Melbourne.

“This is more likely to be a political decision, given they’d fear someone joins the dots on it restricting fishing,” the Labor Party insider said.

Former Labor Party adviser to previous Premiers and ministerial chief of staff Yorick Piper sits on the VFA board, while its chief executive Travis Dowling is a former chief of staff to two previous Labor Government ministers.