BIA Victoria - Environment

Boating and the marine environment

Understanding and appreciating Victoria's unique coastline and waterways will help ensure  our future generations are able to experience the joy of being at one with nature when boating.

The waters off Australia's southern coats are very special and unique. Over 90% of the plants and animals living here are found nowhere else on earth.

The Victorian Government has created a system of 13 Marine national parks and 11 smaller marine sanctuaries. These parks make up around 5.3% of Victoria's coastal waters.

Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries - Restrictions

For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are protected within the boundaries of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries.

• NO FISHING - No fishing, netting, spearing, taking or killing of marine life.

All methods of fishing, from the sea or shore are prohibited.

• NO TAKING - No taking or damaging of animals, plants and objects (artefacts)

Well, then what can I do?

The below take is a guide which outlines the various types of activities that can be conducted within Victoria's Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries.

Recreational Activities
Nature observing and sightseeing	Yes
Snorkelling and scuba diving	Yes
Swimming and surfing	Yes
Windsurfing, sailing boating	Yes ¹
Filming and photography	Yes
Recreational Fishing and Harvesting
All forms of fishing	No
Bait collection	No
Catch and release fishing	No
Commercial Fishing and Marine Aquaculture
Abalone fishing	No
Rock lobster fishing	No
Netting, line fishing and trapping	No
Marine aquaculture	No
Education and research
Education excursions	Yes
Scientific research	Yes²
Other Uses
Licensed tour operators	Yes²
Commercial filming and photography	Yes²
Removal or disturbance of plants or animals	No
Dredging and spoil dispersal	No
Activities that disturb the seafloor	No
Waste and ballast discharge	No

 ¹ Restrictions may apply to high-speed boating or the use of personal watercraft where there is a conflict with natural values or other users

²Subject to permit

 Information taken with permission from Parks Victoria's 'Boating On The Bay - A guide to recreational boating on Port Phillip Bay'