Your Rod is Off Limits in Dan’s Land and Lakes
The Victorian Minister for Fishing and Boating, The Hon. Jaala Pulford MP used Twitter on Wednesday to officially inform the fishing community that participating in their hobby will mean “you will be fined” amidst statewide COVID-19 restrictions.
On the other hand, representatives from the Prospectors and Miners Association Victoria received a response from Parks Victoria to their question about the legality of prospecting, and were told they could partake in it in local areas while practicing safe social distancing.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur totally supports the ability of prospectors to continue their hobby but has suggested that the double standards in the confusing public messaging issued by the State Government is only aggravating panic during this crisis.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“Solo outdoor activities hardly breach self-isolation rules. The stay-at-home directive is undeniably important in metropolitan areas due to population density regardless of the nature of an activity undertaken, but handing out fines to already-isolated rural residents for having a fish or travelling a few kilometers for prospecting, is completely unfair.”
“So when supermarket shelves in rural towns are cleared by Melbournians making a rare trip out to the regions, residents aren’t even allowed to hunt or fish to put food on the table?”
“If someone can go out for a walk or run around the block with their dog or family group, exercise in a park with their personal trainer, why can’t someone go out for a fish on a lake or a pier? There doesn’t seem to be any consistency in the government’s messaging.”
"Two weeks ago I asked the Minister in Parliament about the collapse of the commercial seafood industry - now she seems intent on destroying recreational fishing as well!"
“Labor are not letting this crisis go to waste – they appear to be very keen to take total control over the lives of individuals. This is a very dangerous development.”
2 April 2020