By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Commercial netting will finish in Corio Bay on 1 April 2018 in a surprise State Government move.
Government introduced legislation yesterday to phase out commercial netting in Port Phillip Bay by October 2022 but to close Corio Bay much earlier.
The 43 remaining commercial-fishing licence-holders will receive compensation of $27 million, up from $20 million.
The Government said it recognised that many commercial netters were multi-generational fishers with strong family connections to the industry.
As part of “a clear and fair exit strategy for licence holders”, compensation payments offered in the first year would range from $350,000 to $1.6 million.
The Government said banning netting would boost recreational fishing.
Geelong and District Anglers Association secretary John Hotchin said anglers could not compete with netters.
“We’ve been saying the nets need to go for the last 30 years,” Mr Hotchin said.
“The practice of setting hundreds of metres of nets across areas such as the inner and outer-harbour of Corio Bay has been a long-standing problem.
“Our 7000 members from the Bellarine Peninsula and the other thousands of fishers from around the bay view today as a massive step forward toward to achieving a net free bay.”
Friends of Corio Bay Action Group (FOCBAG) spokesperson Ivan Bereza said he was ecstatic with the date.
“We look forward to the day when we can go out there fishing knowing they’re not totally wiped out using nets. We’d like it to be sooner but at least we know where we stand.”
Mr Bereza said Corio Bay was earmarked for earlier closure to netting because its shallow water made it easier for netters to “eradicate“ fish.
But Seafood Industry Victoria executive director Johnathon Davey said the earlier closure date for Corio Bay simply added insult to injury.
“I can only imagine it was through political pressure and lobbying from FOCBAG,” Mr Davey said.
“Corio Bay has been the focus of a lot of the contention between the commercial and recreational industries but you are looking at people being forcefully made redundant from their jobs.
“The recreational lobby is jumping up and down with the announcement but when is it enough? It’s forcing people to the wall rather than allowing them to exit of their own choice.
“The compensation increase to $27 million doesn’t make it any more reasonable. Spread between 43 it’s not a whole lot.
“We expected more to provide an equitable exit strategy.”
