With the ASIC now no longer in existence Recfish Australia is currently the only representative organisation of the FRDC. With the changes to the constitution of Recfish Australia in 2005 to provide for a Board it is essential that we have in place appropriate governance, induction measures, policy frameworks, conflict of interest provisions, board recruitment processes, skills and knowledge audit and general board performance assessment.

This will ensure that Recfish Australia is being managed in a way that will secure its future and in doing so the future of the voice of recreational fishers at the national level. This review will also give confidence to our members and other stakeholders, including the Australian Government, that appropriate and necessary processes are in place and are relevant, robust and sufficient to ensure good governance for Recfish Australia.

The last national recreational fishing conference was held in 2008. It is recognised within the fishing industry, and supported by FRDC, that industry sectors need to hold a conference every 2 years to allow the sectors to showcase their achievements and provide a high level forum for issues affecting the industry. By 2012 it will be 4 years since the last recreational fishing conference.
Key industry bodies Recfish Australia and AFTA have recognised the need for another national conference for some time. The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, as part of the Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy, has also recognised the need for a national conference.

For the conference to be world-class, there is a need for participation to be broadened to encompass parts of the industry that have not been previously involved (eg boating) and to include agencies whose decisions impact on recreational fishers (eg marine park agencies). The conference will focus on the future of recreational fishing in Australia and addressing issues related to that in a practical and innovative manner. The conference also needs to build on the Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy.

There is also a need to develop the leadership skills of the next generation of recreational fishers by exposing them to issues and areas of concern that they will need to address in the future. The concept of succession planning is of paramount importance to the future management of the industry. The conference will allow current and future leaders to develop key strategies to improve the engagement of recreational fishers in decision making that impacts on recreational fishing.