Follow the rules when fishing for pipis

PIPI season has begun, and the Victorian Fisheries Authority has reminded fishers to follow the rules at fisheries along the state’s west and east coasts.

These pipi fisheries are highly valued by local communities and visitors who collect the shellfish for bait and food.

Victorian Fisheries Authority Director of Education and Enforcement Ian Parks said most people who collect pipis at fisheries such as Venus Bay do the right thing, obey the catch limits and possess a fishing licence.

“Our Fisheries Officers work alongside coastal communities and visitors every summer to ensure these fisheries remain sustainable.

“Regular patrols in uniform and undercover suggest a very high compliance rate among Venus Bay pipi collectors, which is terrific to see.”

Key pipi fishing rules in the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, including Venus Bay, are:
• Daily pipi catch limit of 2 litres per person, or if removed from the shell (shucked) 0.5 litres per person
• Collect pipis with hands and feet only – digging tools are not permitted
• Your catch is your own – don’t collect pipis for other people’s daily limit, and
• Check you have a valid fishing licence, unless exempt – buy one online from vfa.vic.gov.au/fishinglicence.

Mr Parks said different cultures value pipis for different reasons.

“We understand that Venus Bay is very popular for collecting pipis, which is why we more than halved the daily catch limit in 2009 to better share the pipis stocks among different stakeholders.

“Monitoring indicates the pipi fishery is sustainable and experiences natural variation like most fisheries that depend on spawning of wild stocks.”

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing can phone Fisheries’ 24-hour reporting line 13 FISH (13 34 74) any time.