In a major victory, Cowes Fisheries office will now remain open following a three-month campaign opposing the State Government’s planned gutting of Fisheries.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) this afternoon confirmed four Fisheries officers will also be based from Cowes.

But in a bitter-sweet outcome it is understood all four current officers will be required to reapply for their jobs through an Expression of Interest (EoI).

A VFA spokesperson said the Cowes, Mornington and Queenscliff stations will remain open and four Fisheries officers will work from each of these locations. 

Staffing arrangements will be finalised in coming weeks, the spokesperson said.

They said following “consultation” adjustments had been made to the VFA’s operating model, and there will be 35 less positions within the VFA including 15 Fisheries officer positions. 

“Following extensive consultation, we have reached an outcome that will allow us to modernise our approach to fisheries management including an increased focus on community engagement,” the spokesperson said.

“The outcome allows us to continue protecting our fisheries while focusing more on education and engagement with the recreational fishing community in a way that positions the VFA for long-term success.

“These changes will strengthen our capacity to engage with recreational fishers across Victoria and to focus on major fisheries crime.

“We have consulted with employees and the union on changes being made within the organisation and have a range of support services for impacted employees through this transition.”

The spokesperson said the Major Fisheries Crime Unit will target organised illegal fishing with additional resources.

Bad news

Phillip Island resident Kevin Brown – who has worked 40 years in Fisheries – said while it was “great news for the island’s fishing fraternity” it was bad news for Cowes staff who would now have to reapply for their jobs through EoI.

“It’s good news they’ve finally recognised this area needs policing,” Mr Brown said.

“But it’s bad news these guys with years of experience will not automatically stay here. 

“These are four highly trained staff and now, after everything, they still have to fight for their survival because they showed resistance (to government cuts). They’re being penalised and have to fight for their positions.

“It’s destabilising.”

As announced in February, from April 19 four staff in the Cowes Fisheries office were to have their roles terminated and the building on Dunsmore Road was to be sold.

Early in April a VFA spokesperson said there would be no job losses on April 19.

Under the previous cuts, five Fisheries offices in Western Port and Port Phillip bays were to be closed, including Cowes, and 27 staff were to lose their jobs.

There was to be no enforcement officers in Victoria, except for four in a Melbourne-based crime unit.

There were to be just nine new positions created for Fisheries "engagement officers", with three new offices opened: Tooradin, Carrum and St Leonards.

However, now those proposals have changed.

More details in next week’s paper.