The most recent Government Health Order was amended on 28 September 2020 to allow persons from Victoria to enter the Murray River without a permit subject to the conditions that the person:
- has not been in a restricted area or area of concern in the last 14 days and
- does not enter an embankment, dock, port or wharf on the Murray River that is on the northern side of the River.
- operators of vessels must take reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has been in a restricted area or area of concern in the last 14 days does not enter their vessel on the Murray nor disembark at an embankment, dock, port of wharf on the northern side of the Murray River.
- NSW residents are not restricted from fishing in NSW waters but should not enter any Victorian waters nor should they enter any embankments, docks, ports or wharfs on the Southern side of the Murray River unless they are residents from the Border bubble area and have a relevant permit
Cameron Westaway, Inland Senior Fisheries Manager with NSW DPI advises that regular fishing rules still apply and reminds us that;
- September to November is closed season for Murray Cod. These fish cannot be targeted during this time, and any Murray Cod caught must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm.
- Possession of Trout Cod is also prohibited, and any fish caught must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm.
- ALL FISHING is prohibited during September to November inclusive within the Trout Cod Protection Area, downstream of the Yarrawonga Weir (weir at the outlet of Mulwala Lake) to the Tocumwal Road Bridge.
For further reading, please refer to the following sites;
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Victorian Fisheries Authority – Murray River
Department of Health & Human Services
NSW Government Covid-19 – Border Restrictions