2 results

Strengthening partnerships and relationships within the recreational fishing sector

Project number: 2009-314
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $20,257.00
Principal Investigator: Len Olyott
Organisation: Recfish Australia
Project start/end date: 30 Apr 2009 - 30 Dec 2009
:

Need

In a recently completed study (2007/058 and R4041) into strategic funding options for the recreational fishing sector, options for the national peak body, Recfish Australia, appeared limited. In the face of decreased funding from the Australian Government (a three year funding agreement ended on 30 June 2008 with no commitment to continue), the association was advised to seek alternative funding.

An option of seeking funding from the fishing trade and boating industries is currently being investigated but there are several challenges that need to be addressed before funding can be secured.

There is a need for Recfish Australia to build trust with both industry and other recreational fishing organisations not currently part of the association. A clear business case and purpose for Recfish Australia that delivers benefits to recreational fishers and industry partners needs to be formulated and the details of any funding agreement need to be carefully considered.

What is clear is that there is an ongoing need for Recfish Australia to continue as a national peak body advocating on behalf of recreational fishers and engaging with Australian Government agencies and departments. Recfish Australia provides a valuable service and ensures that the needs and rights of recreational fishers are considered in discussions of issues such as marine protected area planning, biosecurity, research and development and in strategies to deal with the implications of climate and environmental change.

Objectives

1. Recfish Australia to host a preliminary, facilitated, meeting with AFTA, BIA, Sunfish Queensland and the Game Fishing Association of Australia to discuss the conditions of a funding agreement between industry and Recfish Australia and identify issues impacting the formation of a unified peak body.
2. Recfish Australia to host a facilitated, round table discussion of all current, past and potential members to discuss the funding proposal and business environment of Recfish Australia
3. Recfish Australia to review its constitution, business case and strategic plan.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9775165-9-9
Author: Len Olyott Doug Joyner
Final Report • 2010-05-11 • 542.19 KB
2009-314-DLD.pdf

Summary

Currently across Australia there are a number of formal, non-formal and ad hoc or loosely aligned industry groups representing specific sectoral interests within the recreational fishing industry.

While each group has a specific cause and unique constituency, unnecessary duplication, ineffective communication and poor lateral strategy on key policy issues affecting recreational fishing, occurs.

This project sought to identify pathways and structure that could facilitate more effective partnerships amongst peak bodies within the recreational fishing industry.

Keywords: Recreational fishing, funding, partnerships, industry, strategic.

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
:

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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