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.

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.

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.