Bright future for fishing in the Maribyrnong River

Bright future for fishing in the Maribyrnong River © Marc B Ainsworth

The Maribyrnong River is set for a boost with an $815,000 three-year project that will improve access for recreational anglers and increase the river's native fish population.

Member for Essendon Danny Pearson, said the project would focus on the stretch of river between Flemington Racecourse and Keilor, and include a new boat ramp for motorised boats as well as the installation of 30 new fish habitat 'havens', and have up to 300,000 additional estuary perch fingerlings stocked.

Thanks to the Andrews Labor Government, anglers' ability to get onto this part of the river, and increased populations of popular species such as black bream, mulloway, mullet and estuary perch will be significantly bolstered.

The project is a terrific partnership between anglers who are contributing $200,000 through their recreational fishing licence fees, Melbourne Water with $200,000, Parks Victoria, local shires and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), which is contributing $415,000 through Target One Million.

The project will also monitor the river's fish population, including the stocked estuary perch, and the colonisation of the 30 fish havens, which will be placed in the river following consultation with other water users about the best locations.

A review of land-based fishing needs will be undertaken to guide future investment in access projects for anglers, and a study of the Maribyrnong river's early fishing history will capture how things have changed over more than a century.

The project has received widespread support from more than a dozen local angling clubs and from VRFish, Victoria's peak recreational fishing body.

It strongly aligns with the VFA's Draft Freshwater Fisheries Management Plan, which calls for a partnership approach to fish, water and land management to build better fisheries.

Quote attributable to Member for Essendon Danny Pearson

"This project is great news for local anglers and builds on the wonderful work that agencies are doing to improve fish passage, water quality and surrounding parklands."

"Target One Million is the Labor Government's $46 million investment in recreational fishing which aimed at getting more people fishing, more often and this great news will see more people eager to wet a line."

Quote attributable to Martin Corkhill from the Essendon Angling Club

"We're looking forward to some great fishing over the next decade as we put fish habitat back, boost native fish numbers and improve fishing access."