Development of contingency plans for significant aquatic animal diseases is a critical first step in the management of disease outbreaks. In this respect, aquatic animal health policy development is lagging behind terrestrial animal health policy by approximately 20 years.

At the Melbourne workshops, all sectors of the fishing industry strongly supported the need for a national approach to aquatic animal disease control issues and identified the writing of contingency plans for disease incursions to be an important task. Also they noted there was a need to build on the unanimous support for this contingency planning process and there was an expectation that some generic, sectoral plans could be developed very rapidly.

One of the major implications of climate change is the large-scale redistribution of species; as the environment changes, species shift in response to keep track of preferred environmental conditions.
This is happening faster in the ocean compared to land, and species are moving greater distances where the warming is greater (Chen et al 2011 Science) - such as the southeast of Australia.

To best respond to these changes we need to ensure 1/ we have an early indication of how species are shifting (what might be new opportunities?) and 2/ our industries and communities are aware of these changes and accepting of the science underpinning management responses. Redmap takes advantage of the collective observations and geographical area covered by fishers and divers to provide detailed, verifiable and low-cost observations of how and when our marine ecosystems are changing. Information collected can address key knowledge gaps in partnership with the southeast’s marine industries and coastal communities. Critically, it is also a valuable proven tool to promote awareness of climate change impacts. Range shifts is a concept which is tangible, visual and easily understood, in contrast with complicated computational projections or analyses which are not readily grasped (or indeed trusted) by the general community. Up to 80% of fishers do not believe climate change is occurring, or that it will affect their industry, yet given Australia approach of co-management it is absolutely critical that industry and community acknowledge climate change as a risk so they may better respond and adapt in a timely manner to the challenges ahead.

This project directly addresses high level objectives in the SEAP/DAFF deed, which are to:
• facilitate fishing and aquaculture sectors to make informed decisions on adapting to climate change; For example, as new species are reported to Redmap in a new jurisdiction, stakeholders will be able to consider the potential of future fishing opportunities.
• inform decisions on fisheries management arrangements to ensure they are responsive to a changing environment. For example, as new species are reported to Redmap in a new jurisdiction, fisheries managers will be able to review available data and consider the appropriateness of current management controls such as catch limits, closed seasons and size limits.

In terms of the existing DAFF deed milestones, this proposal clearly aligns with 'information products of climate change implications for the sectors'. It has demonstrated capacity to help increase awareness amongst the fishing and non-fishing community - increased awareness is a pre-requisite for effective stakeholder engagement and ultimately adaptation.

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.