Australia's National Recreational Fishing Conference 2017
The 2015 National Recreational Fishing Conference was highly successful, enabling the recreational fishing community to gather and discuss issues of national importance.
The value of regular fishing sector conferences is recognised among the fishing community, and supported by FRDC, to facilitate continued progress, coordination and recognition of achievements. The next national event for the recreational fishing community is planned for 2017. The primary aim of this event will be to bring opinion-shapers, decision makers and key representatives from Australia's recreational fishing sector together to develop a shared vision for the future of recreational fishing in Australia. Opportunities will be explored to collaborate with other significant events planned for the fishing community in 2017 such as Seafood Directions to enable shared discussions on how to position fishing in Australia optimally to continue to meet social and economic needs moving forward, whilst considering environmental implications.
Final report
National Recreational Fishing Conference bursary 2019
This bursary will deliver against one of Recreational Fishing Research’s RD&E priorities this year: “Upskilling current and emerging leaders within the recreational fishing community”. The bursary will also deliver against the FRDC nominated RD&E priority of “People development”. The National Conference is an excellent opportunity to bring young leaders together to learn about and discuss topical issues and the applications of citizen science to the future of recreational fishing.
Engagements with the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, and representatives from several state peak bodies have indicated there is a real need to create more learning and development opportunities for current and emerging leaders in the community. This proposal will outline how state peak bodies and the recreational fishing community will be engaged with the aim of sending 2 representatives from each state to the National Conference. This project will give bursary recipients a forum to share their goals and visions for recreational fishing with other leaders before the conference, mentorship during the conference itself, and a platform to share their learning and intentions after the conference.
Final report
Over the 10th and 11th of December 2019, the Australian Recreational Fishing Federation held their biannual National recreational Fishing Conference in Hobart, Tasmania. The theme of this conference was “Our Fishing. Our Research. Our Recreational Future”.
In response to the ARFF’s request, the FRDC commissioned a bursary program for 16 individuals from around the country (2 from NT, QLD, TAS, VIC and WA, 3 from NSW, 1 from SA, and 2 Indigenous representatives). 5 leaders from the Victorian Fishing Authority’s Women in Recreational Fishing (WIRF) network were also invited to join activities organised for the bursary winner, and 2 members of Recfish West, whose expenses were paid by Recfish West were also allowed to join the activities.
Program participants attended a half-day introductory workshop the day before the conference, had full access to all conference activities for the 10th -11th of December including the gala dinner, and attended a half-day consolidation workshop on the 12th when feedback was gathered before returning home.
Bursary recipients
Upon application, the bursary winners provided answers to the following:
- Why do you wish to attend this specific conference?
- What do you intend to do for the recreational fishing community upon your return from the conference?
- Howard Jones (TAS) - Executive member of Anglers Alliance Tasmania.
- Gary France (TAS) - Anglers Alliance Tasmania.
- Mitchell McMaster (VIC) - Geelong and Bellarine Facilitator for Fishcare.
- Tom Clayson (VIC) - Member of Fishcare.
- Laura Schroder (SA) - Marine Scientist
- Melita McKinnon (NT) - Amateur Fishermen’s Association Northern Territory, Darwin Game Fishing Club
- Kurt Davis (QLD) - Marine Scientist
- Robbie Porter (QLD) - Central Moreton Bay Chapter for OzFish Unlimited
- Adam Martin (NSW) - Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation
- Eric Burns (NSW) - Jindabyne Branch of the Monaro Acclimatization Society
- David Harris (NSW) - Team leader Inland Waterways OsFish Unlimited
- Alanna Hubbard (WA) - Recfishwests
- Steph Watts (WA) - Recfishwest,