PORTLAND was the epicentre of Operation Barrel over the unofficial Anzac Day long weekend as hundreds of boaters and fishers poured into the region.

Water Police from Melbourne brought their largest vessel for the five-day operation, a 16.8-metre catamaran capable of marine rescues as far as the continental shelf if required.

Working with Victorian Fisheries, Water Police conducted pre-departure safety checks and licence compliance at Portland harbour for two days then headed up to 20 nautical miles out of Cape Bridgewater to ensure recreational and commercial fishers were complying with catch limits of all fish species, but mainly bluefin tuna, and licence compliance.

They also patrolled the Cape Bridgewater marine park for any illegal fishing.

Leading Senior Constable Shaun Wallace said 350 vessels were launched in Portland harbour over the weekend, 110 were checked and only 10 fines were issued. Five commercial charters were also checked.

“We were rapt with the compliance rate,” he said.

“We’re here to educate, not ruin fishers’ days. Prevention is better than the cure.

“We came over because of the amount of fishers and boaters expected over the pseudo long weekend, especially for the tuna, and also to help the local Coast Guard. But no one exceeded bag limits and there was one rescue – a 6m trailer boat that had run out of fuel near Lawrence Rocks and was towed back into Portland harbour.”

Fines were issued for expired rocket flares, not servicing life jackets and being unlicensed. Many were warned for undersized fire extinguishers. 

Four Water Police officers lived aboard the catamaran throughout the operation and covered a total of 300 nautical miles (560km) of Victorian coast.

“It was pretty rough coming down around Cape Otway with four to five-metre waves,” Leading Senior Constable Wallace said.

“But it was beautiful on Saturday and Sunday. Off Cape Bridgwater we saw lots of dolphins, seals, possibly one blue whale, and tuna – including one weighing 130kg.”