NATS WANT DETAILS ON LICENCE BUYBACK

The State Government has been urged to release details on the voluntary buy-back of commercial fishing licences in Corner Inlet and the Gippsland Lakes.

The Nationals Spokesman on Natural Resources Peter Hall said the period for applications closed on October 31 and the community would be interested to know how many licence-holders applied for the buyout.

"There is a great deal of interest in the community about the management of our fisheries and I'm urging the government to be open and transparent with its handling of this issue," Mr Hall said.

"The Nationals have been generally supportive of this buyback because it is entirely voluntary and it provides an opportunity for some fishermen who may wish to exit the industry to do so with dignity.

"Creating 'fishing havens' for recreational angling has significant benefits for the tourism industry but it needs to be balanced with the expectation of communities throughout Victoria to be able to buy locally-caught fish."

Mr Hall said the Gippsland Lakes Fishery Access Licences appeared to be the focus of this latest buyout and he has urged the government to remain focused on all aspects of fisheries management.

"Removing commercial licence holders is not going to cure everything in the Gippsland Lakes," Mr Hall said.

"There needs to be an ongoing commitment to habitat and environmental measures along with a rigorous enforcement of recreational fishing regulations."

Mr Hall said The Nationals had been urging the government to undertake a thorough review of the Gippsland Lakes fishery due to increased pressure on fish stocks and environmental issues.

"When a government is allocating a natural resource like fish it has to take into consideration the needs of all constituents - not only the people with the capacity to catch their own," Mr Hall said.

"There are significant issues in relation to water quality, habitat degradation, carp infestation, over-fishing and the high population of cormorants which all take their toll on the fish stocks.

"The Nationals believe there are opportunities to strike a balance between the tourism industry's needs for a strong recreational fishing sector and a sustainable commercial fishing industry which maintains cultural traditions and provides its own economic benefits to our region."

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066