UPDATE: The Victorian Fishing Authority contacted the Melton Environment Group and Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group in writing on Monday to inform the groups that the licence would not be issued.
EARLIER THIS WEEK: Melton environmentalists are lobbying against an application for a commercial eel fishing operation off the Werribee River.
The Melton Environment Group and Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group are fighting an application to the Victorian Fishing Authority for a commercial fishing licence which was up for public consultation until last Friday.
The proposed eel fishing operation would involve the use of about 20 fyke nets along the Werribee River between Exford Road bridge and Cobbledicks Ford Streamside Reserve in Wyndham Vale.
Melton Environment Group president Daryl Akers, who is also the secretary of the Pinkerton Landcare group, said locals were “appalled” to learn about the application.
“Our main concern is that this operation will endanger the platypus population, which is already under threat in the Werribee River,” Mr Akers said.
“The proposed commercial netting operation will involve the use of fyke nets.
“When scientifically qualified researchers use these nets for surveying platypus numbers, they have to comply with rigorous animal ethics standards including frequent checks of nets and nets being set in a particular way to protect platypus.”
He said the ethical standards also reduced the risk to animals such as the rakali water rat, turtles and waterfowl getting caught in the nets.
“As well as the considerable threat to such an iconic Australian species as the platypus, commercial netting will also endanger other native wildlife,” Mr Akers said.
“The numbers of rakali are already threatened by foxes and dogs.
“Similarly, many aquatic birds feed in the Werribee River. These include ducks, coots, moorhens and cormorants.”
VFA fisheries management director Dallas D’Silva said the authority would make a decision later this week.
“We go through a process with all applications and we’ve got a number of submissions to consider,” Mr D’Silva said.
“We are considering a number of factors including the importance of that area of the Werribee River to the local fishing community, its importance to the native plant and wildlife as the residents of the area.”
