Need for a workshop

In recent times recreational anglers have experienced a combination of circumstances that have been eroding, or threatening to erode, their overall access to this which is one of the most highly sought after recreational pursuits in Australia. Without evidence to suggest any order of priority, these circumstances generally can best be summed up as resulting from the likes of the following events:-

Marine Parks and National Parks restrictions
Water Authorities
Lands Department
Proposed Government sales
Primary producers denial to accessing streams, rivers and impoundments
Environmental group representations on threatened species or those under threat
Industrial pollution causing no-go or restricted fishing areas
Environmental impacts, and
High levels of water extraction by irrigators, mining organisations,

The NSW population participating in fishing appears to have dropped alarmingly from 30% to 20% of the total population, the 2003 National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey produced figures estimating 3.36 million Australians fished annually in 2000, with 30% being in NSW.

The national total recreational boat ownership was then listed as 925,466, with again the largest number of 307,813 being in NSW. In addition, overseas tourists who fished in Australia totaled just fewer than 200,000 in 2001.

To demonstrate the economic significance of recreational fishing the 2003 Survey stated the expenditure attributable to recreational fishing as being $1,85M for 2001, $554.2M being in NSW.

With this much at stake in terms of investment and participation, there is clearly a need to address issues.

Access is identified as a national priority for research and investment by Recfishing Research (a joint initiative of Recfish Australia and FRDC) as well as other peak representative organisation R&D strategies including VRFish (Victoria's peak recreational fishing body).

WRL puerulus settlement has been unexpectedly low over the past two settlement periods, with the most recent settlement period (2008/09) being the lowest on record. This extremely weak settlement has occurred despite environmental conditions being favourable for an above average settlement (i.e. a strong Leeuwin Current, warm sea temperatures and la Nina like conditions).
The recent poor settlements could be attributed to a number of possible scenarios, including, reduced egg production from depleted brood stock or a shift/change in oceanic conditions possibly due to climate change. Understanding what scenario(s) are responsible will be crucial for the effective conservation and management of the WRL stock, and ultimately the longevity of the fishery. Anecdotal evidence suggests that colonisation of the puerulus collectors by a number of other species commonly found during processing of these collectors have also been extremely low in recent times. Beginning to examine of the marine flora and fauna communities colonising the puerulus collectors over a range of 1200 km during this time of extremely low settlement (i.e. prior to the end of the settlement season in April 2009) and determining how these communities vary in relation to the varied environmental conditions experienced, will provide valuable information as to what may be influencing puerulus settlement. If settlement of other marine flora and fauna show a related response to that of the WRL pueruli, it could indicate environmental change may be responsible for the decreased settlement. This data will complement other research, such as the oceanographic modelling application (JM010) submitted by DoF and is crucial to the effective management of the WRL fishery. Furthermore, this spatial analysis conducted on a monthly scale has the potential to further identify possible indicator species of localised environmental conditions that could continue to be monitored as part of the standard WRL puerulus monitoring program.