RECREATIONAL anglers are being invited to attend a free conference on Friday 12th August to hear from fisheries experts about the removal of commercial net fishing and the health of key species in Port Phillip Bay.
Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Travis Dowling, said the evening would also feature keynote speaker, Rex Hunt, who has been a passionate bay angler all his life.
“We’re keen to share the latest findings from our work in the bay and outline the substantial progress that’s been made this year in removing 33 of 43 commercial netters, which was the flagship commitment in the State Government’s $46 million Target One Million plan,” Dowling said.
The conference will be held at the Altona Theatre from 5.30pm until 9pm on Friday 12th August.
Presentations from experts will cover kingfish and southern calamari research, which has been funded by fishing licence fees, along with habitat improvement efforts in the bay such as shellfish reef restoration and recreational fishing reefs.
Attendees will also hear from VRFish’s Dallas D’Silva about the results of the latest Ernst and Young economic study on recreational fishing in Victoria.
David Kramer, from 3AW and Talking Fishing, will share his views on the removal of commercial net fishing and the exciting times ahead for saltwater anglers in the bay.
The evening will conclude with a panel discussion and questions from the audience to provide everyone with an opportunity to have their say on all things fishing.
Mr Dowling said the bay conference built on the success of last year’s Talk Wild Trout conference in Mansfield, which attracted hundreds of keen freshwater anglers from across the state.
“We’ll be repeating that conference in November 2016 and adding a third to the calendar focusing on Murray cod, to be held in Shepparton in December.
“Both of these freshwater conferences will be promoted more widely when details are finalised.”
Registration for the bay conference can be done by emailing improving.fishing@ecodev.vic.gov.au which will assist with event logistics and catering for a light dinner meal at the interval.
Learn more about the bay conference, including speakers and themes, on the Victorian Fisheries website.
