Need for a workshop

In recent times recreational anglers have experienced a combination of circumstances that have been eroding, or threatening to erode, their overall access to this which is one of the most highly sought after recreational pursuits in Australia. Without evidence to suggest any order of priority, these circumstances generally can best be summed up as resulting from the likes of the following events:-

Marine Parks and National Parks restrictions
Water Authorities
Lands Department
Proposed Government sales
Primary producers denial to accessing streams, rivers and impoundments
Environmental group representations on threatened species or those under threat
Industrial pollution causing no-go or restricted fishing areas
Environmental impacts, and
High levels of water extraction by irrigators, mining organisations,

The NSW population participating in fishing appears to have dropped alarmingly from 30% to 20% of the total population, the 2003 National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey produced figures estimating 3.36 million Australians fished annually in 2000, with 30% being in NSW.

The national total recreational boat ownership was then listed as 925,466, with again the largest number of 307,813 being in NSW. In addition, overseas tourists who fished in Australia totaled just fewer than 200,000 in 2001.

To demonstrate the economic significance of recreational fishing the 2003 Survey stated the expenditure attributable to recreational fishing as being $1,85M for 2001, $554.2M being in NSW.

With this much at stake in terms of investment and participation, there is clearly a need to address issues.

Access is identified as a national priority for research and investment by Recfishing Research (a joint initiative of Recfish Australia and FRDC) as well as other peak representative organisation R&D strategies including VRFish (Victoria's peak recreational fishing body).