Please share the online petition with any like minded people you can think of with computer access. We have hard copies of the petition in key locations around Lakes Entrance and surrounds for those who don't. YOU CAN ALSO HELP to promote the petition online by clicking the "promote" tab and donating, every dollar will help. This will expose the petition to more people online at Change.org who care about our Lakes and the associated environment. We have heard back from the VFA and the rumour that the Black Bream catch for last financial year was only 10 tonne was incorrect. We have been advised that it was 42 tonne. We are awaiting information on some other indicators to identify the current state of the fishery until the 2016/17 report is published. We continue to talk to fishers, on the river banks and on boats. A lot of people (locals and visitors) are going home disappointed with many not getting a bite. Nicholson Fishing Club has a comp on this weekend and we will be interested to see the results this afternoon. We will let you know. We are awaiting a response from Craig Ingram as to the implementation of the recommendations from his 2016 report. Currently we can see that there is signage on the river entrances indicating the 600 metre restriction, but cannot see any marker buoys. We have looked again at the restriction zones identified in the report and of the 11 zones, 5 have perimeters less than the 2.2 km maximum mesh nets. This means it is still possible to restrict entry and exit of fish from these tributaries into the Lakes. For example Tom Roberts creek has a straight line restriction marker of 0.8km!!! You can see all the restriction zones in the Ingram report pages 22 to 31. https://vfa.vic.gov.au/featured/current-consultation/netting-of-gippslands-river-mouths We are also yet to hear back from Minister Pulfords office in regard to why Labors election commitment in 2014 was limited to banning netting at the river mouths when Port Philip and Corio Bays had a total ban introduced. We have, however, had a response from the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, in relation to upholding their 2014 pre-election commitment to stop commercial netting. He has stated that Tim Bull, local Nationals member, has raised the issue with him and the issue will be considered as part of the Liberal Nationals policy for the 2018 election. He states that we have a "very strong advocate on this issue with Tim". We will write to Tim and seek a meeting. We have also contacted the Greens for East Gippsland and will raise the netting and other environmental issues related to the health and sustainability of the Lakes and associated wetlands. Boats and Jet Skis We have, and has have others, noted a number of jet skis and boats exceeding the speed limits in the rivers and in marked areas of the Lakes. We have contacted the water police who have advised that if the boat or jet ski can be identified by its registration number, a short video of it offending might help (but no personal confrontation please, safety first!!) The water police advise they have been having a presence on the Lakes and Rivers but they cannot be everywhere. If the information is passed on to them it is possible to prosecute the offenders. Exceeding speeds, particularly in large boats, increases the wash and potential erosion of river banks and lake edges. Excessive noise in sensitive areas can disturb wildlife. Hooning on jet skis and speeding in boats increase the risk of collision and harm to protected species such as the Burranun dolphin. The Gippsland Lakes Sustainable Boating Plan 2016-2018 is a useful resource for responsible boating. http://www.loveourlakes.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GLEF-Project-Gippsland-Ports-GIPPSLAND-LAKES-SUSTAINABLE-BOATING-PLAN-FINAL.pdf The attached link is to an article in the daily telegraph showing the consequence of hoon behavour More to come soon!