OPERA house nets will be banned in all public and private waters throughout Victoria from July 1, 2019.
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Opera house nets are often used to catch yabbies. They will be phased out and replaced with new open top lift nets.
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said the move aimed to benefit native animals such as platypus and turtles.
“Opera house nets have been placing our platypus population at risk and so it’s time for us to embrace different fishing gear that will catch just as many yabbies without impacting our precious wildlife,’’ she said.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority will work with the fishing tackle sector, anglers and environmental groups on an awareness campaign around 'wildlife-friendly' yabby gear. People will be able to trade in their old opera nets for free open top lift nets through a one-for-one trade as part of the changes. The Victorian Fisheries Authority said open top lift nets could be used in both public and private waters and were proven to be effective yabby catchers.