Catch a grant to improve fish habitat

Large wood structures - East Gippsland © Victorian Fisheries Authority

Victoria's world-class marine, estuarine and freshwater fisheries will continue to flourish into the future with more fish habitat thanks to the second round of a $2.5 million grants program.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the Victorian Government's $96m investment to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture was backing round two of the Fish Habitat Improvement Fund, which enables the installation of habitat so fish can rest, feed and breed as well as boosting the health of aquatic ecosystems.

"We know improving fish habitat makes a real difference to our fisheries and aquatic ecosystems long-term and we encourage eligible groups and organisations to apply for a grant," he said.

The grants are available through two finding streams - one open year-round to projects from recreational fishing groups for up to $50,000, and funding for larger scale projects for up to $200,000 where co-investment is required.

It continues a proud history of fish habitat projects like the installation of kingfish reefs in Port Phillip, shellfish reef restoration, and rocky reef modules in Corio Bay.

Among the projects funded through round one of the grants program was a partnership with the Australian Trout Foundation to invest $49,000 into in-stream and streamside habitat in the Ovens River near Bright, complementing previous habitat improvement above and below this stretch of river.

In Port Phillip, the Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club led a large-scale project to build Kayakers Reef, a structure that will provide homes for shellfish and structure for popular recreational species like snapper, King George whiting and calamari.

The $200,000 project will deploy more structures into the water once they are seeded with native oysters, helping to restore lost shellfish reefs once abundant in Port Phillip. The triangle and tower structures are easily accessible for kayak and small boat fishers wetting a line in our iconic bay, which has been net-free since 2022.

In a further boost to the environment, many habitat projects make use of recycled or re-used materials such as oyster and mussel shells from restaurants and timber salvaged from storm damage or roadworks.

Organisations eligible to apply for the grants include catchment management authorities, local, regional and statewide fishing bodies, councils, water authorities, traditional owner groups and land councils and community organisations.

Applications for both funding streams are open now, with the larger-scale stream two grants closing on Friday, 2 May. For more information, head to vfa.vic.gov.au/fishhabitatfund