There is a need for a forum for discussion that is organised and supported by recreational fishers. While other conferences such as ASFB allow the scientific community to meet and discuss aspects of fisheries science, there is no national forum which brings together fisheries managers, recreational fishers and industry representatives.

There is a need to recognise volunteers and other paid individuals involved in sustainable management of recreational fisheries. This is best achieved through a well publicised awards ceremony.

The Next Generation of Leaders program has identified a resource of future fisheries leaders at both the national and state level. There is a need to harness the creative strength of these individuals.

Representatives of the recreational fishing sector met in August 2005 “to develop a more strategic approach to setting research and development priorities” for the sector. The workshop’s main outcomes were the development of 12 priorities and the formation of Recfishing Research to promote and coordinate their implementation.

However, while progress is being made on some national R&D priorities, there is a clear lack of strategic direction and detail on what the current needs are.

Two things are needed:
• a review of the 3-year old R&D priorities and,
• more explicit details of the most immediate and pressing needs under each priority.

An examination of what is being achieved under each priority will help to identify key areas of under-investment and to refocus project development and investment on topics of greatest strategic need. The workshop will place special emphasis on involving young people in industry and research. As well as assisting industry and researchers, the outcome of the workshop will inform FRDC’s immediate investment in recreational fisheries R&D projects and the development of its R&D plan beyond 2010.

The need for a more cohesive national approach to recreational fisheries RDE has been recognised by Recfish Australia and FRDC for some years. The first move towards a more cohesive approach occurred in 2001/02 with the establishment of the National Strategy for the Survival of Released Line Caught Fish. For the first time a national approach was developed to a priority issue for the recreational fishing industry and over the following years a new very inclusive approach was taken. Key priorities have been addressed through the strategy, leading to a significant improvement in our knowledge on the survival of released fish and an improvement in the best practices for releasing fish.

In 2005 the FRDC Board recognised the need for a new approach to the broader range of recreational fishing RDE priorities and identified the need for the recreational sector to form a body to take these issues forward. The recreational fishing industry needs information on the social and economic benefits provided by recreational fishing to inform resource sharing and access, counter falling participation rates and facilitate growth of the sector in line with changing community values. Research and promotion of best fishing practices is needed to meet community concerns regarding sustainability and ethical conduct of recreational fishing. Extension of new knowledge needs to be improved as past R&D projects have not adequately used recreational fishers communications networks to transfer new knowledge. This proposal seeks to provide for the formation of that body, to provide for the ongoing planning and coordination needed at a national level in a way that adds value to work undertaken by the States. It will also address FRDC’s requirements for effective extension and adoption of R&D results which is reflected in the adding of E to the traditional R&D.