The wildcatch fishing industry throughout Australia is declining in number, but more alarming is the significant decline in fisher participation in representative bodies. The declining membership of fishers in representative bodies is undermining the success of the industry in business and political arenas.
Launched in Feburary this year, Wildcatch Fisheries SA (WFSA) was established to re-unite the South Australian wildcatch fisheries under a single representative body. The organisational structure has a Council of representatives of the 13 fisheries (including comonwealth wildcatch licence holders) and a Board of Management providing for three Councillors and three independent Directors. Membership is based on individual voluntary membership of licence holders.
Although all industry sector associations and individual fishers strongly supported the development of WFSA, there has been only limited uptake of individual voluntary membership. The Council and Board unanimously identified that understanding the reasons for lack of engagement by fishers to the layers of representative bodies was a critical develpment priority for the organisation and the industry. The WFSA Councillors and Directors, along with the sector association executive, are aware that the ongoing success of the wildcatch fishing industry is through service delivery, advice and representation on a range of statewide issues the best placed group to deliver these outcomes is the State representative body.
Although industry leaders are aware of the importance of representative organisations, individual fishers remain apathetic and uncommitted to join their sector or state representative bodies. To develop a strong and secure seafood industry at a sector, state and national level, we must understand the mechanisms driving the individual's decision not to join these organisations. Moreover, we need to clarify the individual's needs and expectations so that strategic and business plans are tailored to deliver tangible, long lasting benefits to the industry and therefore members.
