Version No. 104
Fisheries Act 1995
No. 92 of 1995
Version incorporating amendments as at
22 October 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
2Commencement
3Objectives of Act
3AConsultation principles
4Definitions and interpretative provisions
5Definition of fish
6Declaration of fishing bait
7Definition of fishery
7AMeaning of species
7BExpanded meaning of possession of fish or fishing equipment
8Definition of Victorian waters and waters
9Act to bind the Crown
10Crown property
11Application of this Act
11AATraditional owner agreement for natural resources
11AThis Act applies to fisheries reserves on land
11BExtraterritorial operation of Act
11CLicence, approval and quota not personal property
Part 2—Commonwealth and State management of fisheries
Division 1—Commonwealth–State management
12Powers and functions of Minister and deputy
13Power to enter into agreements
14Judicial notice and publication of agreement
15Functions of Joint Authority
16Delegation
17Procedure of Joint Authorities
18Report of Joint Authority to be tabled
19Arrangement for management of certain fisheries
20Application of Act to fisheries in accordance with arrangements
21Functions of Joint Authority
22Joint Authority to exercise certain powers instead of Minister
23Provisions to apply to Joint Authority fishery
24Statement in an arrangement to be sufficient evidence
25Regulations and notices
Division 2—State–State management
26Power to enter into agreements
27Powers and functions
Part 3—Management plans
28Management plans
29Contents of fishery management plan
30Contents of fisheries reserve management plan
31Contents of declared noxious aquatic species management plan
32Submissions on management plan
33Amendment of management plan
34Duty of public authorities
35Inconsistency
Part 4—Regulation of fisheries
Division 1—Offences, licences, general permits and authorisations
36Offences relating to commercial fishing activities
37Offences relating to commercial abalone equipment
38Access licences
39Restrictions concerning access licences
40Offence to receive or sell any fish
41Fish receiver licences
42Offences relating to aquaculture and live fish etc.
43Aquaculture licences
44Offences relating to recreational fishing
45Recreational fishery licences
46Group recreational fishery licence
47Recreational fishing that does not require a licence
49General permit
50Special provisions concerning general permits for developing fisheries
50ALicence does not confer automatic rights on water authority property
50BFishery licences not transferable unless regulations allow
Division 2—Issue, variation, conditions etc. of licences and permits
51Issue of fishery licences
51AMinister may determine that licences be publicly sold
52Conditions of fishery licences and permits
53Offence to fail to comply with licence or permit conditions
54Changes to licence or permit conditions
55Variations of licences and permits by regulation
56Transfer of licences
57Certain licences may be renewed
57ATransitional provision concerning certain licences not held by one person
57BRestriction on the re-issue of cancelled licences
57CTransitional provision concerning certain licences not held by one person
58Powers of Victorian Fisheries Authority to cancel or suspend licences
58ALicences or permits must be returned to Victorian Fisheries Authority
59Registration of financial interests
59ARegistration of financial interests
60Cancelled transferable licences may be transferred
60ARemoval notice on cessation of aquaculture activities
Division 3—Ministerial directions and quota notices concerning fisheries
61Minister may issue directions
61AValidation of direction published on 3 April 2003
63Compensation arising from the cancellation of access licences under section 61
64Initial quota order
64AFurther quota order
64ABSub-zone orders
64BGeneral…