BRACKS GIVES UP ON ABALONE POACHING

The Bracks Government has been accused of 'giving up' to illegal abalone poaching with its decision to halve the recreational daily bag limit.

The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources Peter Hall said the decision to reduce the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five abalone was a blow to tourism operators and diving enthusiasts in eastern and western Victoria.

"The Bracks Government has given in to the criminals who try to exploit our abalone resource and at the same time, they are short-changing the law-abiding citizens who want to catch their own abalone," Mr Hall said.

"The government could have stepped up its enforcement procedures and cracked down on the illegal trade but instead, it has halved the number of abalone that recreational divers can take.

"It's another blow to country Victoria from a government that doesn't understand our way of life. The opportunity to sustainably use a natural resource like abalone by putting on wetsuit and diving for your own dinner is something that is part of life outside Melbourne.

"Most people would hardly bother to get wet if they are only allowed to take five abalone. Just like it is doing with duck hunting, the government is effectively shutting down the recreational industry by stealth with regulations that make it less attractive to participate in the this past-time."

Mr Hall said the recreational fishing industry peak body VR Fish had estimated the recreational take of abalone in Victoria at 1% of the total catch each year.

"The commercial sector and the poachers have a much larger impact on abalone stocks but the government has singled out recreational bag limits in a token effort to fix the problem," Mr Hall said.

"If abalone thieves are masquerading as recreational abalone fishers as the government claims, then more resources should be put into cracking down on restaurants in Melbourne that provide a market for the illegally sold abalone.

"There are tough penalties already in place and the government should put more resources into detecting breaches and enforcing the law - not targeting recreational divers and country communities."

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066