Victoria’s Fisheries Regulations were reviewed and approved March 2009. There was no requirement to return berried females Cherax spp and no size restriction. The allowable daily take of whole Cherax spp (yabbies – Cherax albidus, Cherax destructor and an un-named rare species of Cherax found in North Victoria) was increased from 20 litres to 30 litres. Please note that NSW and SA have a daily take set at 200 yabbies per person per day regardless of size with berried females being required to be returned. In Victoria a large number of berried Cherax spp and non Cherax spp can potentially be taken in the 30 litre limit. Recreational fishermen are not required to be able to distinguish different species so crayfish that are not Cherax species would also be targeted. For example Geocharax spp, Gramastacus spp, Euastacus spp and Engaeus spp would be severely impacted if berried female crayfish are not required to be returned. The following requirements in relation to berried fish was taken from Fisheries Regulations 2009, S.R. No. 2/2009 95 Offence to take, land or possess bugs or spiny freshwater crayfish in berry. 328 Offences to take, land or possess rock lobster in berry. 339 Taking, landing, possession etc. of berried or soft-shelled rock lobster prohibited. 371 Offence to take, land or possess giant crab in berry. 380 Taking, landing, possession etc. of berried giant crab prohibited. There was no requirement to return berried Cherax spp in Victorian Fisheries Regulations 2009. The significance of the threat is a severe and dramatic reduction in Cherax spp and non Cherax spp populations. With Recreational Fishers approaching one million in number and each permitted to take 30 litres of whole yabbies per person per day including berried females the long term sustainability of yabby and other freshwater crayfish populations is affected.

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