Seafood Industry of Victoria

Apollo Bay (population 2,000) is situated 187km southwest from Melbourne along the magnificent Great Ocean Road.

The economy has changed from depending on a thriving fishing, timber, and dairy industry to a greater reliance on tourism.

Commercial fishing still plays a big part in the local economy but gone are the days of isolation and coastal schooners, cutters and other craft that traded along the Victorian coast. Many vessels found their resting place along the rugged Otway Peninsular. Vessels such as "Gazelle" and "Black Witch 2" succumbed to the notorious Bass Strait weather off the coast of Apollo Bay. Many other wrecks are scattered along this stretch of coastline that is now referred to as "the shipwreck coast".

The fishing industry in Apollo Bay began in 1847 when the Henty brothers started a whaling station. The catching of barracouta in 'couta' boats closely followed. As the roads improved the barracouta were sent to the Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market on a regular basis. The fishermen accepted a catch limit of 10-12 boxes per person so as not to flood the market. The barracouta heads were packed in wooden banana boxes and frozen at the Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-operative (built in 1955) to be used for rock lobster bait. The barracouta bodies were packed and sold in wooden boxes that were made by the fishermen during periods when they could not go fishing.

Over the years the main target species progressively changed from 'couta' to rock lobster with some boats turning to long lining for sharks . Fishing boats ventured further out to sea and with it the design of the rock lobster boats changed to becoming larger and incorporating a 'wet well' to keep the animals alive. Some astounding catches were made at Big Reef (16nm south west of Cape Otway) with day hauls of 80 dozen. Fishing closer to the lighthouse catches of 15-20 dozen was more common. About 100 tons of crayfish was landed annually at Apollo Bay. Today 40 rock lobsters a day is considered a good days catch.

Some fishers targeted both shark and rock lobsters requiring dual boats. These boats ranged in size from 35 to 45 feet (10-13m). In early 1970 the fishing gear used for catching sharks changed from long lining to mesh netting with many unusual species like the sundowner being marketed. About fifteen dual boats worked from Apollo Bay until the mercury ban on sharks. The mercury issue became political and many fishermen along the Victorian coast gave up catching shark in disgust.

Presently, fishermen in Apollo Bay concentrate on catching rock lobsters for the Asian live market although three boats still target shark with mesh nets. Technology and demand for fish products, have applied pressure to our fish stocks whereby most fisheries today require complicated management arrangements. Rock lobster fishing has been driven by dollar values for too long and many fishers believe that it should be stock driven instead. If stocks are sustainable then fishing is economically viable. Government needs to realise this and allocate appropriate funds to research and management of our fisheries resources. Most fishermen believe commercial fishing still has a future in Victoria.