Native Fish Report Card tells us where they're biting

Native Fish Report Card tells us where they're biting © Marc B Ainsworth

Victorians will get a better insight into the health of the state's waterways and native fish numbers following the launch of the Native Fish Report Card, funded by the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Water Lisa Neville and Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford released the Native Fish Report Card today which aims to keep communities updated about the state of native fish in Victorian rivers.

By monitoring fish populations in Victoria's 10 priority rivers, the Native Fish Report Card will tell local anglers and conservationists about the health of key Victorian fish species.

The priority rivers are: Gellibrand River, Glenelg River, Goulburn River, Gunbower, Lindsay & Mullaroo, Mitchell River, Ovens River, Thomson & Macalister, Wimmera River and Yarra River.

Fishers, citizen scientists and community members alike can access information about recreational and threatened non-recreational fish species through a web-portal that will be updated with new fish population data every year.

Over the next three years this website will provide valuable information on the condition of native fish and is the first Victorian program to do so. As data is strengthened throughout the years, we'll be able to discover trends in fish populations.

Funding for this program comes from the Labor Government's record $222 million investment into waterway and catchment health, recreational fishing licence fees and Target One Million, which is investing a record $46 million to get more people fishing, more often.

The program is run by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Victorian Fisheries Authority. The website can be accessed at nativefishreportcard.org.au.

Minister for Water Lisa Neville:

"The Report Card will give the community and anglers important information about the state of Victorian fish."

"Through Water for Victoria, we're improving information about our waterways and catchments, and better reporting back to communities."

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford:

"We want more Victorians fishing more often, which is why we're investing in the Native Fish Report Card to provide the community information on where to go fishing and what they can expect to catch."

"We can't wait to see the benefits of our record native fish stocking and continued investment in snags for fish reflected in future report card results."