14 results
Adoption
PROJECT NUMBER • 2011-502
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

RFIDS: Australian National Recreational Fishing Conference 2012

Holding a national conference was identified as a priority project by the Federal Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RFAC) and developed as part of "Recreational fishing in Australia - 2011 and beyond: a national industry development strategy". The conference was held on 17-19...
ORGANISATION:
Recfish Australia
TAGS
Stakeholder
Responsible Fishing
Recreational Fishing
Policy
Media
Adoption

Strengthening partnerships and relationships within the recreational fishing sector

Project number: 2009-314
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $20,257.00
Principal Investigator: Len Olyott
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 30 Apr 2009 - 30 Dec 2009
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Workshop
Disease
Diagnostic
Community
Biosecurity

Need

In a recently completed study (2007/058 and R4041) into strategic funding options for the recreational fishing sector, options for the national peak body, Recfish Australia, appeared limited. In the face of decreased funding from the Australian Government (a three year funding agreement ended on 30 June 2008 with no commitment to continue), the association was advised to seek alternative funding.

An option of seeking funding from the fishing trade and boating industries is currently being investigated but there are several challenges that need to be addressed before funding can be secured.

There is a need for Recfish Australia to build trust with both industry and other recreational fishing organisations not currently part of the association. A clear business case and purpose for Recfish Australia that delivers benefits to recreational fishers and industry partners needs to be formulated and the details of any funding agreement need to be carefully considered.

What is clear is that there is an ongoing need for Recfish Australia to continue as a national peak body advocating on behalf of recreational fishers and engaging with Australian Government agencies and departments. Recfish Australia provides a valuable service and ensures that the needs and rights of recreational fishers are considered in discussions of issues such as marine protected area planning, biosecurity, research and development and in strategies to deal with the implications of climate and environmental change.

Objectives

1. Recfish Australia to host a preliminary, facilitated, meeting with AFTA, BIA, Sunfish Queensland and the Game Fishing Association of Australia to discuss the conditions of a funding agreement between industry and Recfish Australia and identify issues impacting the formation of a unified peak body.
2. Recfish Australia to host a facilitated, round table discussion of all current, past and potential members to discuss the funding proposal and business environment of Recfish Australia
3. Recfish Australia to review its constitution, business case and strategic plan.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9775165-9-9
Author: Len Olyott Doug Joyner
Final Report • 2010-05-11 • 542.19 KB
2009-314-DLD.pdf

Summary

Currently across Australia there are a number of formal, non-formal and ad hoc or loosely aligned industry groups representing specific sectoral interests within the recreational fishing industry.

While each group has a specific cause and unique constituency, unnecessary duplication, ineffective communication and poor lateral strategy on key policy issues affecting recreational fishing, occurs.

This project sought to identify pathways and structure that could facilitate more effective partnerships amongst peak bodies within the recreational fishing industry.

Keywords: Recreational fishing, funding, partnerships, industry, strategic.

Adoption
People
People

Strategic revenue options for the recreational fishing sector

Project number: 2007-058
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $30,000.00
Principal Investigator: Len Olyott
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 9 Jan 2008 - 30 Jun 2008
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Recreational Fishing
Economic
App

Need

For many years it has been difficult to find a means whereby the recreational and sport fishing sector of the fishing industry can secure a reliable and equitable source of revenue to provide the capability for the sector to develop and grow.

Equity issues are always difficult to overcome when it comes to financing a proposal e.g. under the current state arrangements if we were to ask for a contribution (from licence funds) from the states with fishing licences then not all states would contribute equitably as some have no or limited licence arrangements. However if a levy was imposed, for example, at the wholesale point of sale for fishing tackle or boat sales and this passed on to the end user then the end user will be contributing on a user pays basis i.e. the more you buy the more you pay. And this would be equitable across the country with no exceptions. The alternative funding options identified in the paper will be assessed for equity, effectiveness and ease of implementation.

Programs such as the Recreational Fishing Community Grant Program are not long term (20 yrs) and it is increasingly evident that the recreational sector must be able to support its direction and to take responsibility for the future. A reliable and secure funding source is essential for this.

Objectives

1. The aim of this project is to explore the issues that need to be addressed on the concept of levies for the establishment of a secure, reliable and independent revenue stream from the recreational fishing participants to enable the sector to promote growth, participation, research and development and extension, infrastructure, habitat restoration, succession planning, capacity building, communications, etc.
2. The project will provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits/detriments of levies and the processes that need to be addressed to consider their introduction. Whilst focusing on the concept of a levy, the scoping paper will also identify other potential funding options/sources that may be available to the sector
3. This project will help identify and prioritise additional or alternative options not as yet explored by the sector

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9775165-7-5
Author: Len Olyott
Final Report • 2009-08-18
2007-058-DLD.pdf

Summary

Historically, the recreational fishing sector in Australia has always relied on governments to provide resources to develop and promote the sector. The idea of a long term, strategic revenue stream independent of government formed the basis of this scoping study.

An independent revenue stream would allow the sector’s representative groups to develop long term plans for capacity building, succession planning, promotion and marketing of recreational fishing, Research, Development & Extension, restoration projects, etc which in turn will deliver direct benefits to the fishing public.

Several options for strategic funding mechanisms were considered including hypothecation of existing taxes and the raising of new levies on fishing related purchases. Most of these were rejected based on government policy or difficulties with implementing new “taxes”. A broader roll out of general fishing licences or boating levies was considered as one possible source of funding at state/territory level while the establishment of a permanent recreational fishing trust was considered as an option at a national level to fund activities of national importance. Both of these streams, however, rely on some form of government involvement.

The only options for a truly independent stream for the recreational fishing sector involves the development of partnerships with corporate sponsors and reliance on money collected directly from recreational fishers through donations or membership. Provision of professional services may establish a revenue stream for peak representative organisations.

Keywords: Recreational fishing, funding, revenue, grants, strategic.

Development of a national environmental management and accreditation system for business/public recreational fishing competitions

Project number: 2006-057
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $115,564.00
Principal Investigator: Bill Sawynok
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 30 May 2006 - 30 Jun 2008
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Biology

Need

Development of an environmental accreditation system for recreational fishing competitions is needed to promote the sustainability of recreational fishing and proactively address a number of issues which are beginning to be directed towards the industry. Catch and release fishing has become a cornerstone of sustainable recreational fisheries management in Australia, as evidenced by the support for national initiatives such as the FRDC National Strategy for the Survival of Released Line Caught Fish. In today's world, recreational fishing is under increasing pressure to promote sustainable and ethical fishing practices, and fishing competitions, by virtue of their high profile, must be used to promote such practices wherever possible, including releasing fish techniques.

The FRDC’s 2005-2010 R&D plan lists minimising animal welfare issues as a key strategic challenge for all industries. The proposed accreditation system will address this strategic challenge and reinforce outcomes from the National Strategy for the Survival of Released Line Caught Fish and the National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sportfishing. It is a proactive step towards combating threats to recreational fishing from animal welfare activists (who we predict are most likely to target fishing competitions first). Furthermore, increasing public liability insurance premiums are threatening the existence of smaller events and indirectly encouraging tournament organisers to increase the size of their competitions to help cover insurance costs. Development of an accreditation system opens up the opportunity to negotiate insurance discounts and other benefits for competitions which take part in the system, helping limit trends towards larger and larger competitions. Hence the overall driving force behind this initiative is the need for industry to take a proactive approach to confronting these issues before they threaten the viability of fishing competitions, and potentially, some aspects of recreational fishing in this country as a whole.

Objectives

1. Develop a National Fishing Competition Accreditation system that is supported by competition organisers and sponsors, fishing industry groups, government fisheries agencies and other relevant entities.
2. Develop an ISO 14001 environmental standard for fishing competitions.
3. Negotiate with insurance companies over insurance for accredited competitions.
4. Trial the accreditation system in at least one high profile fishing competition in each State and trial the ISO standard in at least 1 high ranking competition.
5. Obtain endorsement of the accreditation system from key environmental groups.

Final report

ISBN: 0-9775165-5-5
Author: Bill Sawynok
Final Report
2006-057-DLD.pdf
People
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2005-322
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Establishing a recreational fishing working group to develop a national implementation plan R, D and E.

Following the success of the National Strategy for the Survival of Released Line Caught Fish it was considered that a national approach needed to be developed to address a broader range of recreational fisheries R,D&E issues. A workshop was held in Hobart in August 2005 to determine the...
ORGANISATION:
Recfish Australia
TAGS
Workshop
Wild Catch
Safety
Publication
Nutrition
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