How to deal with fisheries and boating infringement notices

THE Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) provide the following information on its website to provide assistance to people who have received an infringement notice from an authorised VFA officer:

The most common infringement notice issued by these regulatory areas is for conduct that breaches fisheries and marine safety laws.

Infringement notices can also be issued for other offences relating to forestry, land conservation, marine national parks, wildlife, game and litter.

What is an infringement notice and why did I get one?

Infringement notices are issued to persons who have breached the law in a minor way.

They are used to address the breach with minimum recourse to the criminal justice system.

They allow persons to avoid the stigma associated with criminal judicial processes, including that of having a criminal conviction or finding of guilt recorded against them.

All infringement notices are governed by the Infringements Act 2006 and the VFA has policies and guidelines on how and when they are used.

An authorised officer of the VFA can issue an infringement notice for offences that are infringeable.

They form part of a suite of enforcement tools available, which the authorised officers can exercise at their discretion and within the bounds of any VFA guidelines and the Attorney-General’s Guidelines to the Infringements Act 2006.

For more information regarding infringement notices and the infringements system generally, you can visit the Victorian government fines website.

What are my options if I have received an infringement notice?

Several options are available to you if you receive an infringement notice.

* Pay the penalty

* Elect to have the matter heard by a court

* Make application for an internal review, or

* Apply for a work and development permit (if you meet the criteria)

For most fisheries’ infringement notices, Fines Victoria handles payments, internal review applications, court elections, work and development applications.

They can be contacted by phone on (03) 9200 8111 or in person at 277 William Street, Melbourne.

You should, however, check your infringement notice to make sure that Fines Victoria is the right agency to contact.

If you see or suspect any illegal fishing in Victoria, call the 24/7 reporting service, 13FISH (133474), to speak directly to a fisheries officer. You can remain anonymous.

 

FISHING REPORTS

Anglesea

* Tuna seems to have gone now.

* Reports of small catches of pinkies and flatheads

* There are plenty of sizeable school sharks around now

Reports courtesy of the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea

Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove

Fishing seems to be a bit hit or miss now.

* Still a few reports of salmon off the beaches

* A few trevally and the odd whiting

Torquay

Reports are still average,

* Few reports of small gummies and pinkies

* No reports of a tuna being caught

Reports courtesy of the Torquay Angling Club

St Leonards

* Reports of a few good whiting being caught in the 35–37cm mark

· A few squid also reported

White Lady

* Reports of some whiting but not in numbers

Indented Head

* Still reports of a few whiting

Reports courtesy of The Bellarine Pirates and St Leonards Angling Club

Grassy Point

* No reports available

Queenscliff

* No reports available

Portarlington

* No reports available

Clifton Springs

* No reports available

Reports courtesy of Drysdale Bait and Tackle