MORNINGTON Fisheries office will remain open after a strong community backlash and concerns from Mornington Peninsula Shire over proposed changes that would have led to its closure.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) confirmed on 21 May that four Fisheries officers will continue to be based in Mornington. All four current officers will be required to reapply for their jobs through an expression of interest process.
A VFA spokesperson said in addition to Mornington, the Cowes and Queenscliff stations would also remain open, and four Fisheries officers will work from each of these locations. Staffing arrangements will be finalised in coming weeks, the spokesperson said, which noted Fisheries officers would still be authorised officers who carry a badge and can issue fines and undertake inspections.
The announcement comes after the Mornington Peninsula Shire wrote to the VFA earlier this year about its proposed changes, warning fewer officers would lead to a “much higher risk” of illegal fishing and habitat destruction.
In February the VFA proposed to close its Mornington station and replace it with a “community office” in Carrum (Fisheries office closure sparks concern of weak compliance, The News 3/3/25). However, a VFA spokesperson said, “following extensive consultation, we have reached an outcome that will allow us to modernise our approach to fisheries management including an increased focus on community engagement”.
“The outcome allows us to continue protecting our fisheries while focusing more on education and engagement with the recreational fishing community in a way that positions the VFA for long-term success. “We have consulted with employees and the union on changes being made within the organisation and have a range of support services for impacted employees through this transition.”
The VFA’s adjustments to its operating model will see 35 less positions within the VFA including 15 Fisheries Officer positions across Victoria, including Port Phillip Bay.
Councillor Max Patton had successfully moved a motion at the council’s 11 March meeting expressing concerns over the VFA’s restructure which would see a significant reduction in fisheries officer positions and enforcement capacity across Victoria, including Port Phillip Bay (Push to keep fisheries officers on the bay, The News 27/03/25).
Councillors had also voted for the shire to write a letter to the VFA’s CEO and Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos, outlining their concerns while calling for extensive community and stakeholder consultation before implementing any significant reforms.
The VFA confirmed in their announcement that the Major Fisheries Crime Unit will target organised illegal fishing. “These changes will strengthen our capacity to engage with recreational fishers across Victoria and to focus on major fisheries crime,” the spokesperson said. The VFA also noted it would “continue to provide the resources, services and education the fishing community needs, as required by legislation”.
The Victorian Coalition tabled a petition in state parliament in May, signed by more than 21,000 Victorians, demanding the state government scrap its planned gutting of fisheries compliance and enforcement. Outdoor Recreation Shadow Minister and Nepean MP Sam Groth said, “Despite Labor’s partial back down (on fisheries cuts), these cuts to fisheries enforcement could leave our waterways vulnerable to illegal fishing, marine damage, and serious safety risks”. “The Liberals and Nationals will always stand with our recreational fishing community to protect fish stocks, uphold fair rules, and ensure the long-term health of Victoria’s marine environments,” he said.
First published in the Mornington News – 3 May 2025
