Project number: 2019-146
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $31,796.17
Principal Investigator: Owen Li
Organisation: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
Project start/end date: 20 Oct 2019 - 19 Dec 2019
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This bursary will deliver against one of Recreational Fishing Research’s RD&E priorities this year: “Upskilling current and emerging leaders within the recreational fishing community”. The bursary will also deliver against the FRDC nominated RD&E priority of “People development”. The National Conference is an excellent opportunity to bring young leaders together to learn about and discuss topical issues and the applications of citizen science to the future of recreational fishing.

Engagements with the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, and representatives from several state peak bodies have indicated there is a real need to create more learning and development opportunities for current and emerging leaders in the community. This proposal will outline how state peak bodies and the recreational fishing community will be engaged with the aim of sending 2 representatives from each state to the National Conference. This project will give bursary recipients a forum to share their goals and visions for recreational fishing with other leaders before the conference, mentorship during the conference itself, and a platform to share their learning and intentions after the conference.

Objectives

1. Proactively work with the state peak bodies and recreational fishing community to identify current and emerging leaders worthy of receiving the bursary
2. Provide a platform for bursary recipients to share experiences, vision, and learnings
3. Provide bursary recipients opportunities to form collaborative relationships with leaders from other states

Final report

Author: Recfishing Research
Final Report

Summary

Introduction
Over the 10th and 11th of December 2019, the Australian Recreational Fishing Federation held their biannual National recreational Fishing Conference in Hobart, Tasmania. The theme of this conference was “Our Fishing. Our Research. Our Recreational Future”.

In response to the ARFF’s request, the FRDC commissioned a bursary program for 16 individuals from around the country (2 from NT, QLD, TAS, VIC and WA, 3 from NSW, 1 from SA, and 2 Indigenous representatives). 5 leaders from the Victorian Fishing Authority’s Women in Recreational Fishing (WIRF) network were also invited to join activities organised for the bursary winner, and 2 members of Recfish West, whose expenses were paid by Recfish West were also allowed to join the activities.

Program participants attended a half-day introductory workshop the day before the conference, had full access to all conference activities for the 10th -11th of December including the gala dinner, and attended a half-day consolidation workshop on the 12th when feedback was gathered before returning home.

Bursary recipients
Upon application, the bursary winners provided answers to the following:
  • Why do you wish to attend this specific conference?
  • What do you intend to do for the recreational fishing community upon your return from the conference?
The following are the bursary recipients and their affiliations:
  • Howard Jones (TAS) - Executive member of Anglers Alliance Tasmania.
  • Gary France (TAS) - Anglers Alliance Tasmania.
  • Mitchell McMaster (VIC) - Geelong and Bellarine Facilitator for Fishcare.
  • Tom Clayson (VIC) - Member of Fishcare.
  • Laura Schroder (SA) - Marine Scientist
  • Melita McKinnon (NT) - Amateur Fishermen’s Association Northern Territory, Darwin Game Fishing Club
  • Kurt Davis (QLD) - Marine Scientist
  • Robbie Porter (QLD) - Central Moreton Bay Chapter for OzFish Unlimited
  • Adam Martin (NSW) - Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation
  • Eric Burns (NSW) - Jindabyne Branch of the Monaro Acclimatization Society
  • David Harris (NSW) - Team leader Inland Waterways OsFish Unlimited
  • Alanna Hubbard (WA) - Recfishwests
  • Steph Watts (WA) - Recfishwest, 

Related research

People
People
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2023-088
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

FRDC Sponsored RD&E State Awards

Commercial in confidence
ORGANISATION:
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)