4 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1999-165
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Evaluating the benefits of recreational fishing

In 1984 a world conference on recreational fishing was held in France. Since then, there had not been a world gathering to discuss and share information regarding recreational fishing. European countries gathered, in Ireland, in 1996 to confer over recreational fishing but this focused only on...
ORGANISATION:
Recfish Australia

2nd biennial national recreational fishing conference, 2008 recreational fishing awards ceremony and 2nd Recfishing Research national workshop.

Project number: 2008-336
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $67,702.00
Principal Investigator: Len Olyott
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 31 Aug 2008 - 31 Mar 2009
Contact:
FRDC

Need

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.

Objectives

1. Recfish Australia to host the 2nd biennial national recreational fishing conference.
2. Recfish Australia to present the 2008 National Recfishing Awards
3. Support the participation of the Next Generation of Leaders in the National Recreational Fishing Conference
4. Develop a broad national consensus on current recreational fisheries R&D priorities.
5. Identify and rank specific areas for immediate investment in R&D under each of these priorities.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921424-99-1
Author: Leonard Olyott

Recfishing Research - addressing recreational fishing research priorities and improving extension

Project number: 2010-211
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $358,189.89
Principal Investigator: Bill Sawynok
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2010 - 29 Jun 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The recreational sector has many unmet needs, particularly its capacity to partner with research institutions, undertake its own R&D and understand the social and economic importance of recreational fishing. It needs skills, information and other resources to engage professionally and constructively in fisheries management, marine planning, resource allocation and access planning processes. Close links with the proposed Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy are needed for a coordinated national framework to R&D to be provided through Recfishing Research.

The first task in identifying the national priorities and more importantly the key areas for investment has been completed. The second task, establishing projects to address those priorities, is the major remaining challenge. To benefit from the investment to date will require a concerted effort over the next few years to have projects developed to fill the gaps that have been identified. Progress requires investment of resources and coordination of how they are deployed. Working with FRDC, Recfish Australia, RFAC and industry and government stakeholders Recfishing Research will assist in identifying those best able to address these priorities and work with them to develop suitable projects. It is expected that Recfishing Research will need to develop some new approaches to ensure that projects will address the national priorities rather than just expect projects to address the priorities.

In order to empower the recreational fishing industry and bring about real change the other critical need is continued improvement in the extension of research information. This is still recognised as a weakness in many research projects and there is a continuing need to improve in this area. There is a need to develop new and innovative ways to get research results to end users, particularly in ways that will improve acceptance and uptake of new knowledge generated by the research.

Objectives

1. Develop and/or commission projects to go to research investors that address the priorities in the Recfishing Research Business Plan
2. Develop an extension service that can actively assist projects to extend their research information to recreational fishers and industry
3. Work with the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee on addressing the priority research areas identified in the Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy
4. Review the governance arrangments for Recfishing Research to ensure they are appropriate for the business model
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