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.