For those interested, the final report from Craig Ingram as part of the current Government's "Target One Million" campaign, can be found at the attached link. We have summarised some of the key information in the document but would encourage you to read it in its entirety to be fully informed. The Victorian Labour Government pledged to ban netting a the mouths of the rivers into the Gippsland Lakes as part of its 2014 election campaign. The river mouth exclusions are designed to protect a sufficient area around of the mouth of the river, to allow migratory fish into the lakes system to freely disperse. This is particularly important as many species move in and out of the rivers to spawn. It should be noted that the Fisheries Regulations (2009) already limit netting to within 400 metres of the river mouths. The Ingram report recommended increasing this exclusion zone by 50%. It also recommends protecting Australian Bass from netting in the Lakes, with this species to be included in an amendment to the 2009 Fisheries Regulations as restricted to commercial fishers. The final recommendations also included that clear mapping and markings of the exclusion zones to commercial fishers and improved markings of nets and gear used for commercial fishing in the Lakes. Ingram makes note in his report that his consultations and investigations highlighted some significant challenges in fishery management in the Gippsland Lakes region, with many issues raised which were outside his brief. One such issue, which was not in the terms of reference, was the buyout of commercial fishing licences. Many local businesses rely on recreational fishers to sustain them and are being directly impacted by the declining recreational catch. The Gippsland Lakes access licence fishery, is an input controlled fishery, which predominately uses "gear" restrictions to manage catches e.g. length and size of nets. The other way fisheries can be managed is through output controls which set quotas or catch limits. The commercial fishers in the Gippsland Lakes also have a number of time and area controls, for example, no fishing with mesh nets in Cunninghame Arm. There are also weekend and seasonal area controls . All of theses are identified in the Victorian Fishing Regulations 2009. The commercial catch in the Lakes has declined over time, mainly due to a decrease in the number of licences, either due to previous buyouts or attrition. There are currently 10 Fishery Access licences which are all active. Black Bream is the major species targeted by both commercial and recreational fishers. There is however concern over a decline in Black Bream in the system, with evidence of a significant decline in the commercial catch over the last 30 years. The recreational catch is also low, with recent catch rates of only one fish every three hours. Ingram suggests, in his report, that the current management of Black Bream in the lakes has significantly impacted on recreational fishers and the tourism community. In his view this is likely to be one of the major reasons for ongoing calls for removing commercial fishing in the Gippsland Lakes. The existing exclusions of 400 metres has been in place for over 100 years and the adequacy of this has been of concern for nearly as much time. Ingram notes that Black Bream are highly migratory with reference to a study that indicates that fish can travel up to 2600km through the system in 12 months. This movement makes them vulnerable to mesh netting, particularly when they enter or exit the river systems as they are funnelled through a small area. The 400 metre exclusion zone is supposed to address this issue but is difficult to define. Hence the recommendation to amend the Fisheries Regulations 2009 to clearly define each exclusion zone with maps included as a schedule to the Regulations. Boundaries are to be clearly marked, as well as nets and markers buoys. The report identifies that commercial fishers predominantly use mesh nets in the Lakes, these are passively set, usually overnight but at times can be insitu up to 24 hours. Recent catch and effort data show an increase in soak times of mesh nets in the Gippsland Lakes. While these extended soak times are not standard practice, the issue of long set times of mesh nets and setting back, raise the concern of potential wastage or spoilage of fish and the potential for increased netting of protected species(not restricted to fish) and associated mortalities. Ingram noted that the decline in the quality and catches of the recreational fishing sector in the Lakes, generated significant feedback in submissions. Many commented on the impact of commercial netting on the financial viability of the local economy and the tourism industry. Ingram mentioned specifically the areas of Swan Reach, Nicholson and Lakes Entrance as generally catering to recreational fishers, in particular, hosting fishing competitions and visiting angling clubs as well as individual fishers. It was noted that the level of visitation has declined substantially with many clubs bypassing the Gippsland Lakes and staying elsewhere. This in turn places increased pressure on smaller systems such as Lake Tyers, Marlo, Bemm River, Tamboon and Mallacoota. Ingram also suggest more active fishing practices, rather than the passive set and leave practices of many (which it must be noted is allowed under the current Regulations) to ensure a higher survival of protected species including water birds. Improved practices in the area will need to be considered by industry perhaps through management plans or an agreed code of practice. Ingram acknowledges the current discord between the commercial and recreational fishing sectors. We again encourage you to read the document in its entirety it can be found on the attached URL and is called "Gippsland Lakes Report with Map" https://vfa.vic.gov.au/featured/current-consultation/netting-of-gippslands-river-mouths