National Recreational Fishing Conference bursary 2019
Building capability and capacity of women in recreational fishing: online course development
The project aligns with FRDC outcomes and enabling strategies – building capability and capacity (4); and provide foundational information and support services (5). and outcomes addressing a culture that is inclusive and forward thinking (3): community trust, respect and value (5); growth for enduring prosperity (1) and best practices and production systems (2)
Whilst resources throughout the recreational fishing sector exist, there is a gap for learning materials that are structured to enable learning – often content does not consider learning outcomes, the sequence or activities necessary to learn and apply, or mechanisms to assess and recognise competency. There is also a gap in learning that specifically targets adults — with a recruitment focus of women and breaking down perceived barriers to entry — with a holistic approach that can take one from beginner to competent and well-versed angler.
Developing such a course will:
- Break down perceived barriers to entry for women into recreational fishing
- Facilitate a measurable, fast-tracked, capability-based journey into recreational fishing
- Establish and provide a gateway into other opportunities in fishing and aquaculture through recreational fishing
- Contribute to increasing the percentage of positive and collaborative individuals in the recreational fishing community through developing capability and capacity build a database of enthusiastic recreational fishers and their competencies
This course will actively work to increase the economic throughput of the recreational fishing sector by breaking down the barriers-to-entry for a vast and largely untapped segment of the market (women), which has the parallel benefit of shifting the perceived value of recreational fishing as a lifestyle, thus increasing the household investment in the activity.
The course intends to inspire a fresh generation of thought-leaders in the recreational fishing community, enabling a broad appreciation of the interplay of layers that influence and impact positive fishing experiences and a robust fishery.
Recreational fishing and human wellbeing: insights from existing data and development of best practice approaches to future measurement
This project is needed as there are knowledge gaps about the effect of recreational fishing on the health and wellbeing of recreational fishers. Recent years have seen many claims about the health and wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing, as well as growing interest in nature connection and outdoor recreation as wellbeing interventions more generally. Measuring and valuing the wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing is not currently possible due to a lack of evidence, and limited methods for monitoring, measuring and reporting wellbeing effects. The FRDC’s RD&E Plan 2015-20 aims by 2020 to have robust community net benefit metrics that enable measurement of the benefits of fishing. This project will develop robust metrics related to health and wellbeing benefits of recreational fishing. Achieving this requires better understanding both (i) whether and under what circumstances engaging in recreational fishing has measurable impacts on health and wellbeing, and (ii) how to measure these benefits to produce readily accessible and understandable metrics. This will help achieve the FRDC’s national research strategy deliverable ‘Social contribution is supported by the fishing and aquaculture sector so it can capture the non-monetary value of activities across sectors.’ This work will also contribute to national science and research priorities in the health field, specifically the priority ‘Build healthy and resilient communities throughout Australia by developing … preventative strategies to improve physical and mental well-being’ (http://www.science.gov.au/scienceGov/ScienceAndResearchPriorities/Pages/Health.aspx). Nationally, this research priority aims to develop strategies for supporting wellbeing. This project contributes by identifying the role recreational fishing can play in building healthy and resilient communities through supporting physical and mental wellbeing. This research will also contribute to the overarching aims of Australia’s rural research, development and extension strategy, which include ‘develop a range of technologies and knowledge to contribute to healthy Australian lifestyles’ (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ag-food/innovation2/nsrrdip-investment-plan1.pdf)
National Recreational Fishing Forum Series (2025-2029)
ARFF proposes to run a 1-day National Recreational Fishing Forum on Tuesday 22nd July 2025. With the set up and additional meetings around recreational fishing to be held on Wed 23rd, the AFTA Trade Show held on Thurs 24th, Fri 25th and Saturday 26th. Allowing participants to travel to the event on Monday 21st and home on Sunday 27th (if not prior). Followed by Annual events in the two years following.
Target Audience/s – Leaders in recreational fishing sector, future leaders of recreational fishing sector, key leaders of other fishing sectors (commercial wild and indigenous), decision makers in governments/departments relevant to recreational fishing. We expect between 150-300 participants.
ARFF will engage a conference organising agency (preferred proposal attached) on the Gold Coast, and set up a forum organising committee from their broader membership. Together they will;
- Determine the logistics of the location and set up, and alignment with AFTA events
- Set up online information and registration
- Promote broadly to recreational fishing groups, peak bodies and recreational fishers
- Determine a program, themes/topics and call for speakers
- Run the event smoothly including all pre event and post event logistics
FRDC will have the opportunity to receive,
- A place on the organising committee
- A mutually agreed number of complimentary registrations
- Any signage provided by FRDC for the forum on stage or at strategic meeting places in the forum break-out/gathering areas
- Logo on all materials, both hard copy and digital including conference website
- Ability to promote the event
Assess new technologies and techniques that could improve the cost-effectiveness and robustness of recreational fishing surveys
It is proposed that a national workshop is needed to: (1) explore options to improve the precision and cost-effectiveness of recreational fishing surveys; (2) consider the use of emerging technologies to support recreational fisheries science; and (3) identify engagement strategies.
Although all States are expected to benefit from the outcomes of the proposed workshop, South Australia is particularly reliant on the shared expertise, transfer of knowledge and advice regarding the execution of scientifically robust, routine recreational fishing surveys. The South Australian Government is committed to undertaking a recreational fishing survey every five years. All previous surveys have been carried out by interstate experts, however, there is a commitment by PIRSA/SARDI to develop recreational fisheries science capability at a sufficient level to undertake all future State-based surveys. It is expected that the workshop will establish South Australia’s role as an active participant in the national assessment of recreational fisheries, increase data harmonisation opportunities across the jurisdictions, and contribute in advancing recreational fisheries science.
Final report
Currently, the most significant gap in our knowledge in assessing the status of community-shared fisheries is determining the relative contribution by the recreational sector. To explore this issue, a two-day national workshop was held from 10-12 July 2018 at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). The key focus was advancing the ‘best practice’ approach in design, execution, and analysis of recreational fishing surveys as described in Georgeson et al. (2015; FRDC 2007-014). This project also builds on recent work by Griffiths et al. (2014; FRDC 2011-036) and Moore et al. (2015; FRDC 2012-022.20). The overarching aim of this workshop was to assess the usefulness of new technologies and techniques for enhancing the cost-effectiveness and reliability of recreational fishing surveys. The attendees included recreational fisheries scientists, managers, a national peak body representative, an international expert, representatives from Deckhand© and a Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) representative.
The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
1. explore options to improve the precision and cost-effectiveness of recreational fishing surveys;
2. assess whether emerging technologies can be feasibly integrated into future surveys; and
3. identify strategies that positively engage the recreational sector in fisheries science and management.