Your Licence Fees at Work

I had a short break with my family around Venus Bay area in Victoria last week and tried our luck on picking pipis. But it seems that many people don’t know they have to buy a licence to fish and even you’ve bought a fishing licence, there’s a legal limit on how much you can take home.

Just read from the news that quite a number of people were charged with fisheries offences over the Christmas and New Year holidays. A group of four has nabbed 66 litres which is over the daily catch limit - two litres pipis with shells per person.

We don’t pay our fishing licence fees in vain; indeed the revenue from fishing licence is working for us. Take Victoria for example, anglers can buy a three-year Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL)for $66, the one-year RFL for $24.50, the 28-day RFL for $12, and the 2-day RFL for $6.

But since 2001, the revenue from fishing licence has funded 345 projects, worth more than $13.5 million, including stone stairways are built in Wye River area to improve access to rock fishing platforms.

Stone stairways in Wye River region

Moreover, seven gorgeous fishing platforms have been built along the east side of Tarwin River between Tarwin Lower and the Tarwin River Bridge to improve recreational angler access.

Fishing platform along the Tarwin River

So next time when you see or suspect an illegal fishing activity, pick up your phone and call the 24 hour reporting hotline - 13 3474 (13 FISH) in Victoria and 1800 043 536 in NSW.

Photo source: Travel Victoria
                         Department of Primary Industries Victoria