Report 2025 | 2024 Great Victorian Fish Count
The 2024 Great Victorian Fish Count (GVFC) brought together over 500 citizen scientists from 30 groups, completing 65 surveys across 38 coastal sites in Victoria. Surveys were carried out at depths ranging from 2–35 metres in varying conditions, with most surveys conducted by scuba divers (65%) and snorkellers (34%).
Survey sites spanned a range of habitats, with rocky reefs (60%), sandy or muddy areas (63%), and artificial structures (52%) frequently recorded. Mixed algae was the most common vegetation type (81%), followed by sponge gardens, seagrass meadows, and kelp forests. Despite Victoria’s Marine Protected Areas covering only 5.3% of marine waters, 17% of surveys were conducted within these zones, reflecting their popularity and ecological value.