Evaluating the benefits of recreational fishing
Final report
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 Europe.
Recfish Australia has always advocated the need to have an international conference. Other countries can often use the trends and findings of research and management ideas from around the world. Networking benefits of such a conference are often overlooked and undervalued.
In 1995 Ms Joelle Row, Resource Management Officer (voluntary position) for the South African Deep Sea Anglers Association, and Professor Tony Pitcher, Director Fisheries Centre University of British Columbia, began discussing the concept of an international conference on recreational fishing. Further talks took place with them and John Harrison, then National Executive Director for Recfish Australia, at the 2nd World Fisheries Congress in Brisbane in 1996.
RFIDS: Australian National Recreational Fishing Conference 2012
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.
Final report
Holding a national conference was identified as a priority project by the Federal Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RFAC) and developed as part of "Recreational fishing in Australia - 2011 and beyond: a national industry development strategy".
The conference was held on 17-19 August 2012 at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre (GCCEC). The conference was a joint program of Recfish Australia and Australian Fishing Trade Association with the support of Recfishing Research.
The conference commenced with an ABT Pro-Am Fishing Tournament on 17 August and was followed by the AFTA Tackle Trade Show on 20-22 August. The conference was attended by 160 delegates and formal and informal feedback indicated delegates thought that the conference was very successful.
An online survey completed by 350 people in early 2012 was used to assist in determining the location, timing, duration, cost and themes for the conference. The overall theme for the conference was "Casting Towards Tomorrow - Keep Australia Fishing".
There were then 36 presentations that addressed the conference themes. The presentations covered a broad range of issues faced by recreational fishing and included perspectives from government, fisheries agencies, recreational fishers and researchers. There were many good news stories told of recreational fishers doing great things at the coal face, particularly in education, habitat restoration, fishing practices and safety.
Keywords: National Recreational Fishing Conference, Recfish Australia, Australian Fishing Trade Association, Recfishing Awards, Strategic Actions.
2nd biennial national recreational fishing conference, 2008 recreational fishing awards ceremony and 2nd Recfishing Research national workshop.
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.