Victorian Mulloway Improvement Program Open for Public Consultation
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has released a public consultation paper outlining a proposed Mulloway Improvement Program aimed at rebuilding and enhancing Victoria’s mulloway fishery through a combination of management reforms, scientific research and potential future stock enhancement initiatives.
Mulloway is one of Australia’s most iconic recreational sportfish, and the proposed program represents a significant step towards improving the long-term health and sustainability of the Victorian fishery while maintaining future fishing opportunities.
Proposed Short-Term Management Changes
As part of the consultation, the VFA is seeking feedback on two key regulatory changes:
- Reducing the recreational bag limit from five fish to two fish per person per day.
- Increasing the minimum legal size from 60 cm to 70 cm.
According to the VFA, the proposed size increase would provide approximately ten additional months of protection before fish become available for harvest, allowing more mulloway to reach sexual maturity and contribute to future recruitment. The proposed changes would also bring Victoria more closely into line with management arrangements already operating in neighbouring jurisdictions.
Expanding Research and Understanding
The program also proposes a renewed focus on scientific research to improve knowledge of mulloway populations and behaviour across southern Australia.
Key research initiatives include:
- Re-establishing a recreational angler tagging program to improve understanding of fish movement, growth rates and stock connectivity.
- Expanding scientific tracking programs within Melbourne’s river systems to better understand spawning behaviour, habitat use and environmental influences on the fishery.
These projects are intended to provide fisheries managers with better information to support future decision-making and improve the long-term management of the species.
Investigating Future Stock Enhancement
The VFA is also proposing to investigate the feasibility of captive breeding and experimental stocking of mulloway into Victorian estuaries.
This work would build on Victoria’s successful recreational fish stocking programs and could provide additional opportunities to enhance recreational fishing outcomes in the future. Any stocking proposal would be subject to further scientific assessment and evaluation before implementation.
Seeking Greater Consistency Across Jurisdictions
The Victorian Government has indicated it will continue working with recreational fishing stakeholders and fisheries agencies in neighbouring states to explore opportunities for greater consistency in mulloway management across southern Australia.
Given the species’ movement across jurisdictional boundaries, consistent management settings may assist both sustainability and compliance objectives.
Public Consultation Now Open
The consultation period runs from 15 July to 15 August 2026, providing recreational fishers, fishing organisations and industry stakeholders with an important opportunity to influence the future management of this highly valued species.
Stakeholders are being asked to provide feedback on whether the proposed Mulloway Improvement Program should be implemented in place of existing management arrangements and whether alternative or refined management approaches should be considered.
AFTA Perspective
AFTA welcomes the Victorian Government’s commitment to consulting with recreational fishers and recognises the importance of maintaining healthy mulloway populations for future generations.
As with all fisheries management proposals, AFTA believes decisions should be based on robust scientific evidence, transparent assessment processes and meaningful stakeholder engagement. Any regulatory changes should demonstrate clear fisheries management benefits while balancing the social, recreational and economic value that recreational fishing delivers to Victorian communities.
AFTA will continue to review the proposal and engage with stakeholders throughout the consultation period to ensure the views of the recreational fishing sector are appropriately represented.
For more detail see: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/proposed-mulloway-improvement-program-for-victoria