The VBIFA (Victorian Bays and Inlets Fisheries Association) chairman often speaks out in support of professional fishermen of the Gippsland Lakes. A (VBIFA) Environmental Management Strategy, states: "Smaller garfish (below the minimum landing size) are delicate and there is risk that that individuals could perish before they can be released through the sorting process-especially when sharing the "bunt" with other species such as toadfish" and (puffers) The strategy states that Commercial Fishers take care to sort small garfish as quickly as possible and return them to the water in a manner that avoids predation by birds. (eg.in the shade of a boat or by using a fishchute.) This also applies to toadies and puffers! FINES APPLY if they are not returned to the water immediately, unharmed. I suppose these puffers fish were just collateral damage. The commercial fisher (unidentified unfortunately) was seen dumping a plastic bag full of toadies into the bins near the boat ramp at North Arm in Lakes Entrance just over a week ago. The bag was soon opened by the pelicans and seagulls and distributed across the adjacent beach. While they may not be edible...they obviously were not correctly sorted and returned to the water or disposed of correctly. The person who sent us this picture (who did not want to be identified) due to "tensions" in the local community between professional and recreational anglers, has been encouraged (ONLY when it is safe to do so) to identify the boat and registration number of the "dumper" or person breaking the rules. They should then call the VFA number 13FISH (133474) and report. The tensions in the small communities of East Gippsland are growing and continued commercial harvesting in the Gippsland Lakes of a dwindling resource is reducing the opportunity for jobs and growth from fishing tourism. Commercial fishing in the lakes returns about $1.2 million and at the most 168 full time jobs (which includes mainly jobs related to offshore and processing not the 4% of total harvest from the Lakes) vs $381 million and 2422 jobs and potentially more from recreational fishing tourism is not helping. Keep sharing and signing. The Government in Spring St, needs to understand that people actually travel (or used to) to target iconic Black Bream and Dusky Flathead in the Gippsland Lakes and have a holiday but no more. By the way Mr Bull, WHERE ARE YOU?