Fisheries Act 1995.

This Act, consisting of eleven Parts, provides a legislative framework for the regulation, management and conservation of Victorian fisheries including aquatic habitats. The Act is divided into the following Parts and divisions: Preliminary (1); Commonwealth and State management of fisheries (2); Management plans (3); Regulation of fisheries (4), Fishery licences (div. 1), Declared fisheries (div. 2), Fishing closures and restrictions (div. 3); Protection of fisheries (5) including protected aquatic biota (div. 1), noxious aquatic species (div. 2) and fisheries reserves (div. 3); Enforcement and legal proceedings (7) including enforcement powers (div. 1), offences (div. 2), proceedings and evidentiary (div. 3) and additional penalties and remedies (div. 4); Controlled operations (7A); General (8) including licensing procedures (div. 1), miscellaneous provisions (div. 2) and fisheries notices and regulations (div. 3); Consequential and transitional (9); Transitional provisions (10); and Determination of disputes (11).
The objectives of this Act are: (a) to provide for the management, development and use of Victoria's fisheries, aquaculture industries and associated aquatic biological resources in an efficient, effective and ecologically sustainable manner; (b) to protect and conserve fisheries resources, habitats and ecosystems including the maintenance of aquatic ecological processes and genetic diversity; (c) to promote sustainable commercial fishing and viable aquaculture industries and quality recreational fishing opportunities for the benefit of present and future generations; (d) to facilitate access to fisheries resources for commercial, recreational, traditional and non-consumptive uses; (e) to promote the commercial fishing industry and to facilitate the rationalization and restructuring of the industry; (f) to encourage the participation of resource users and the community in fisheries management.