Conditional Support

• SARFAC strongly supports the introduction of a licence on the condition that all funds are received into a dedicated trust fund established under legislation to be spent for the benefit of recreational fishing, research into those fisheries and ecosystems that sustain them.
• Those in the community holding current pensioner entitlement and children under 16, and indigenous people fishing in areas subject to native title claims or indigenous land use agreements should be exempted.

NSW example of how licence funds can be used

• $19 million is being spent to buy out commercial fishers from the 30 recreational fishing havens. angler?s fees from recreational fishing licence sales are funding this buy-out.
• The average agreed buy-out amount is $76,000 with a further payment available of up to $20,000 for relocation, retraining and depreciation. the buy- out cost of a commercial fisher is based on their catch history.

Recent public opinion studies

• In 1999, SARDI aquatic sciences conducted an attitudinal survey among South Australian recreational anglers and found the majority supported the introduction of a fishing licence.
• August 2002 omnibus survey indicated that 71% of the population would support such a proposal, with 12% unsure.

How can licence funding be applied ?

SARFAC has a strong focus and high priority towards the introduction of a general angling licence to enable funding of the recommendations of the recreational fishing review committee?s report and in particular the delivery of the following benefits and recommendations for all south australians:

• Opportunity to voluntarily buy-out commercial licences and reduce increasing pressure on south australian fisheries, particularly in areas of high conflict, bays and estuaries and recognised spawning and nursery areas?.
• Develop increased participation and enhancement of the social benefits and flow-on for all members of the community.
• Funding for recreational research that will provide much needed data to support decision making processes. (this benefit was supported by the marine scalefish fishery management committee at its last meeting in June 2002, along with the notion of a recreational angling licence.)
• Support funding for recreational only compliance officers.
• Development of recreational only fishing havens.
• Optimise the economic and social benefits of recreational fishing in south australia.
• Development of high volume put and take fisheries in freshwater impoundments to reduce angling pressure on some of the sensitive fish stocks in estuaries.
• Recognition by government of a community group ( licence payers ), which affords the opportunity to have a say as a stakeholder.
• Provide the capacity to influence economic and competitive development of fisheries resources.
• Development of community educational programs to encourage adoption of sustainable fishing practices and improve the understanding of fishery management principles.
• Provide special project grants to recreational fishing clubs and associations.
• Development of regional recreational fishing infrastructure plans.
• Promotion of state tourism initiatives that benefit regional recreational fishing tourism and achievement of a world class recreational fishery in South Australia.

Summary

A recreational licence will enable the recreational fishing industry to progress its strategies and focus on Future development. without the economic benefits that would flow from licencing, it is likely that our objectives will not be achieved and development will continue to lag behind other states.

Around the world recreational fishing industries are continuing to expand and require adaptive management to demonstrate the effectiveness of community based strategies for recreational fisheries. community values continue to transcend both science and regulation toward a level of stewardship beyond the capacity of governments.