Background on the Issue

In February 2025, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling proposed significant cuts to VFA staff, as part of broader Victorian Government budget savings. The plan proposed the retrenchment of 35 VFA staff (about 18% of the agency), with the bulk of layoffs coming from the frontline enforcement team, spruiking a total cost saving of $9.4 million

Essentially, the proposal involved replacing existing Fisheries Officers – who are critical in protecting our waterways - with a smaller number of “Fisheries Engagement Officers” focused on education, rather than compliance or enforcement.
Under the original proposal, 73 Fisheries Officer positions statewide would be slashed to just 36. In the Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay region (one of Victoria’s busiest fishing areas), staff would be cut from 27 officers down to only 9 – a 66% reduction in on-the-ground enforcement.
The plan also involves closing the busiest five fisheries offices/stations and replacing them with three public-facing “community hubs” – the farcical idea being that education alone would address the serious non-compliance issues around Victoria’s most populated areas (Port Phillip and Westernport Bays).
Item deThe proposal involved a significant consultation period over several weeks (mandatory under Clause 11 of the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Bargaining Agreement). During this time VFA Fisheries Officers filed three disputes at the Fair Work Commission Victoria. The most significant of which was to obtain further information from the VFA on the background of the restructure and where the stated $9.4 million in savings were actually coming from.
Interestingly, as a result of the Fair Work Commission hearing, VFA provided the following information titled “High-level costings”
The budget savings to be generated from the VFA’s transition strategy include:
$5.2m – reduction of 35 filled positions
$1.5m – Not filling vacancies
$2.7m – Other costs – largely driven by lower FTE (eg ICT costs, vehicle costs, SLA and corporate costs, occupancy costs, labour hire and contractor costs)
The above “budget savings” however failed to incorporate costings on acquiring and fitting out the proposed three community hubs (presumably multi-million dollar facilities).
The VFA refused to provide further information, despite their delegates not even being able to provide staff with an accurate organisational chart at the time of the restructure.scription
Item deCEO Travis Dowling perhaps coming to the realisation that education focussed “community hubs” were not going to be a solution acceptable to the community, retreated and provided a final structure to staff on 20th May 2025. A summary of the changes relevant to the enforcement division are summarised below:
Fisheries officers numbers to be reduced to 39 statewide (previously 73 Fisheries Officers)
Closure of the Altona and Braeside Fisheries Officer offices/stations (therefore no Fisheries Officer coverage for northern Port Phillip Bay)
Queenscliff, Mornington and Cowes Fisheries Officer offices/stations to remain, however each to be reduced to 4 Fisheries officers (reduction from 30 Fisheries Officers across Port Phillip and Westernport Bay to just 12)
Fisheries Officers to maintain their title
Fisheries Officers position description change to focus heavily on education and engagement
Community hubs to be abandoned
Fisheries Officers to no longer conduct marine safety inspectionsscription
Fewer officers on patrol raises serious concerns.
Without proper enforcement, illegal fishing, poaching, and non-compliance will escalate—undermining decades of work to manage fish stocks sustainably.
The cuts strip back oversight across vast coastal and inland waters. With fewer eyes on the water, Victoria’s fisheries face real and immediate risks. Recreational and commercial fishers, environmental groups, and Traditional Owners have all sounded the alarm.
Hard-won progress in protecting marine life, supporting sustainable fishing, and safeguarding our waterways is being undone—placing both ecosystems and community livelihoods in jeopardy.
The effects of this restructure will impact the state of Victoria—from fishers and seafood businesses to everyday people who enjoy a healthy local catch.
Whether you fish, enjoy seafood, care about the environment, support regional jobs, or simply want future generations to experience Victoria’s waterways as you have—this matters.

who are fisheries officers?

CPSU CAMPAIGN DETAILS

THE FACTS

Person in marine patrol uniform at boat's control panel, navigating at twilight with digital map display and sea visible through windshield.

The restructure has cut the number of Fisheries Officers statewide from 73 down to 39
In Port Phillip and Western Port Bays – hotspots for fishing – enforcement staff have dropped by 60%. With only 12 Fisheries Officers to watch over these bays, community leaders have warned this leaves our sensitive marine environments vulnerable.

Fisheries officer inspecting a cage filled with crabs on a boat deck.

It’s not just casual rule-breakers – organised criminal networks are drawn to the lucrative illegal seafood trade.
Abalone and rock lobster, for example, fetch high prices on black markets (one diver can easily illicitly gather 100kg of abalone worth around $5,000 in just a few hours).
Without a strong deterrent, Victoria’s waters could see a surge in black-market fishing operations. This creates a dangerous situation that undercuts legitimate fishers and could even fund other criminal activities.
Victoria boasts a vibrant and rapidly growing recreational fishing community – with an estimated 1,000,000 recreational fishers statewide (over half a million of whom name Port Phillip Bay as their favourite spot). In 2015 recreational fishing was estimated to contribute $7.1 billion to the Victorian economy annually.
The commercial fishing sector is equally as important contributing an estimated $323 million to the Victorian economy annually and approximately 3,101 jobs.

Numerous fish laid out on the ground next to a boat on a trailer and a black vehicle with a "Seized by Fisheries" sign.

Only ~5.3% of Victoria’s coastal waters are fully protected in no-take marine parks and sanctuaries – the lowest of any Australian state. This means the majority of our seas rely on regulated fishing to maintain balance. Enforcement is the backbone of this regulation. By diminishing enforcement presence now, we risk undoing progress on marine conservation and failing commitments made to industries (e.g. promises of robust compliance when certain areas were closed to fishing).
Furthermore, our state has the lowest (by far) Fisheries Officers per capita and per recreational fisher compared with all other Australian states*
Fisheries officers play a crucial role in protecting vulnerable species and breeding grounds. They deter poachers from raiding spawning fish aggregations or over-harvesting shellfish. Iconic creatures like the giant spider crabs (which gather en masse in Port Phillip Bay each winter) and the precious abalone and rock lobster populations depend on oversight to prevent overfishing.
Fisheries Officers have been instrumental in busting large poaching operations and without adequate patrols, illegal hauls will become more frequent, pushing species toward decline.

The 2024/2025 annual report released by the Victorian Fisheries Authority showed a significant and alarming increase in non-compliance across all sectors (it must be noted that the restructure was only announced on 13th February 2025 and only took effect on 20th May 2025.
A Freedom Of Information request seeking compliance statistics for the months of December 2025 and January 2026 has confirmed that non-compliance has more than doubled since the restructure.
This information is absolutely alarming – lets remember Travis Dowling’s rationale for the reduction in Fisheries Officers was a result of “most people do[ing] the right thing” and because of an overwhelmingly high compliance rate of over 90%. It’s also important to note that the majority of the Fisheries Officer cuts came from the Port Phillip Bay region – the region that is now experiencing the highest rate of non-compliance (as high as 30%).
The presence of fisheries officers has led to real successes in conservation and safety. Besides curbing poaching, their enforcement of boating safety and catch limits has saved lives and wildlife. (Notably, there was a 50% drop in boating fatalities after officers started enforcing lifejacket rules and safe boating laws.). However, under a new direction as a result of the restructure, Fisheries Officers will no longer conduct marine safety inspections.
Fisheries Officers have also helped maintain sustainable catch rates – one reason Victorian abalone and rock lobster fisheries have been able to rebound from past overfishing is the strict compliance monitoring in place. These successes are at risk if enforcement as scaled back.

A fisheries officer kneels next to a boat with a sign reading 'Seized by Fisheries.' In front of the boat, several fish are laid out on the floor, alongside fishing rods.

Photographers Unknown, all photos sourced via https://www.facebook.com/VictorianFisheries

MORE STATS

MARINE PARKS
& INTERTIDAL ZONES

52% of Victoria’s fisheries inspections (44,401 out of 85,213) in the last 19 months were conducted by just 5 stations—Altona, Mornington, Braeside, Cowes & Queenscliff.

These teams are carrying more than half of the state’s enforcement workload due to high rates of non-compliance in these areas and yet are being shut down.
The limited oversight of Marine Parks highlights the urgent need for more officers in key coastal regions to monitor and protect these critical areas.
Marine Parks are vital for preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species like abalone, which are particularly susceptible to illegal fishing practices.
With insufficient inspections and patrols, these sensitive ecosystems are exposed to significant threats, jeopardising their long-term health and sustainability.
55% of Marine Park inspections between 1 July 2023 and 12 February 2025 were found to be non-compliant.
27.7% of Intertidal Zone inspections between 1 July 2023 and 12 February 2025 were found to be non-compliant, indicating a notable issue with illegal activities in these critical coastal areas, which are vital habitats for marine life and biodiversity.

Map of marine national parks and sanctuaries in Victoria, Australia, highlighting locations such as Port Phillip Heads, Wilsons Promontory, and various reefs and islands, with Melbourne labeled near the center.

MAXIMISING IMPACT

41 out of 45 fisheries prosecutions in 2024 came from Fisheries Officers.
Note: The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Investigations team, SIG (soon to be the Major Crimes Unit) contributed just 4 of the 45 prosecutions.
Based on data from that period, key fisheries that see the lowest compliance rates include recreational abalone, Marine National Parks, and intertidal zone fisheries.

Two people examining a large collection of abalone shells arranged on grass at night, illuminated by lights.

13FISH REPORTING LINE

The 13FISH hotline received reports leading to 179 enforcement outcomes and 364 intelligence reports in 2023/2024.
However, due to low Fisheries Officer numbers, 90% of calls went unaddressed, with many lacking actionable information or reporting legal activities.
In 2023/24, 1,830 13FISH calls were received, with only 71 investigations initiated.
The discrepancy between calls and investigations points to the overwhelming workload for current officers, demonstrating the urgent need for more staff to handle this influx of reports.

Numerous oysters arranged on a blue tarp outdoors, with a black container and coiled yellow extension cords nearby.

EXPENSES

🎯 What Was Funded:
- 95,000 kits distributed to Grade 5 students across Victoria.
- Each kit included a rod, reel, tackle tray, basic gear, and educational materials to help kids learn how to fish.
- Promoted as a way to encourage youth participation in fishing, supporting mental health and outdoor activity.
🔍 The Problem:
- While encouraging kids to fish is positive, the scale and cost feel more like a PR-driven election promise than a sustainable investment in the future of fisheries.
  • There’s no clear evidence that these kits lead to long-term engagement or responsible fishing habits.
  • Meanwhile, Fisheries Officers — who could educate kids directly, ensure compliance, and protect the fish stocks those kids rely on — face job losses.
- They have largely found their way into landfill and on Facebook marketplace.
🎯 What Was Funded:
- Infrastructure upgrades like fish aggregating devices, kayak reefs, pontoons, and cleaning facilities.
  • Events like Hooked On Festivals, Vic Fish Kids clinics, Trout Season Festivals, and Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating (WIRFAB) network events.
  • Fish stocking, contributing to a record 11.54 million fish stocked statewide.
🔍 The Problem:
- The infrastructure and events lean heavily toward PR and participation boosts — but without enforcement, more participation could lead to more unsustainable fishing.
  • Restocking is valuable but risks becoming a costly cycle if compliance is weakened and overfishing continues.
- These events are excellent PR opportunities and community builders — but the cost feels disproportionate when Fisheries Officers are being made redundant.
- The focus seems skewed toward marketing and participation rather than sustainability and protection of the resource itself.
🎯 What Was Funded:
- Breeding and stocking of native species (Murray cod, golden perch) and salmonids (brown and rainbow trout, chinook salmon).
- Private suppliers also provided additional fish.
🔍 The Problem:
- Stocking is reactive — replacing fish lost to overfishing or poor habitat management — rather than preventing those losses in the first place.
- Heavy reliance on private suppliers raises transparency questions about cost-effectiveness.
- Stocking supports recreational fishing, but sustainable fisheries need proactive management. Strengthening compliance and habitat restoration could reduce the need for such high-cost, ongoing restocking efforts.
🎯 What Was Funded:
- Community fishing events, kids’ workshops, and “come and try” days.
  • Club advertising, websites, uniforms, and branded gear.
  • Local facility improvements like BBQs and portable toilets for events.
🔍 The Problem:
- Many grants funded one-off events or promotional materials — more about visibility than long-term fisheries benefits.
- It’s hard to justify spending on club branding while compliance roles that protect the resource are being cut.
- Community events are valuable, but they shouldn’t overshadow the need for sustainability. A more balanced approach could prioritise education, conservation, or even local compliance support alongside events.
🎯 What Was Funded:
- Club equipment & facilities: BBQs, air conditioners, picnic tables, AV gear, even concrete slabs for upgrades.
- Marketing & promotion: Uniforms, club websites, social media ads, signage, and merchandise.
- Event support: Catering for events, guest speakers, and “come and try” days.
🔍 The Problem:
- PR-leaning spend: A lot of this money went to branding — uniforms, gazebos, marketing materials — rather than practical, long-term improvements to fishing sustainability or club viability.
- Facilities vs. Fisheries Officers: While improving clubhouses and BBQ areas supports communities, it feels hard to justify when frontline enforcement roles — the people protecting fish stocks — are being cut.
- Limited reach: These grants benefit individual clubs directly, but the money could arguably have more impact if funnelled into statewide programs that improve fisheries for all anglers.
- Supporting clubs is important — they’re the heart of many fishing communities — but spending on logos, websites, and events is tone-deaf when Fisheries Officers face redundancies.