MRFAC to explore recreational fishing licence for all SA anglers

The state’s key recreational fishing advisory group is now formally looking into an official registration scheme for all SA anglers.

A recreational license could apply to fishers between the ages of 16 and 60. Picture: Thinkstock

The State Government’s key recreational fishing advisory body is to formally investigate a recreational fishing licence and registration of anglers in South Australia.

The measure is a key component of the Minister’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Council’s 2021-2024 strategy document released today.

The strategy also outlines plans to investigate “the opportunity to roll out electronic diaries’’ for recreational anglers managed either by a registration system or a total allowable recreational catch limit.

The document states the fishing licence will be examined as part of a plan to either secure government funding “proportionate to the value of recreational fishing’’ or alternatively “explore separate funding resources’’ including the licence and cost-free registration and a “voluntary initiative fund.’’

Independent MRFAC Chair Sharon Starick said the draft strategic plan was compiled using feedback from more than 4,000 survey responses to last year’s MRFAC recreational fishing priorities survey and input from MRFAC members.

“The aim of the Recreational Fishing Strategy for SA is to identify the interests and key strategic needs of the recreational fishing community for the next three years,” Ms Starick said.

“With an estimated 277,000 recreational fishers, we encourage everyone to read this draft plan and let us know their thoughts. We really want to hear from as many people as possible.

Recreational fishers have shown support for a licensing scheme. Picture: iStock

“This is a draft strategy. After hearing from recreational fishers, we will consider all the feedback before providing the final report to the Minister later this year.”

Besides the financial resourcing opportunities, the strategy document outlines other areas to be explored that include increased public engagement and partnerships, improving data availability on the recreational fishing sector and increased compliance to assist sustainability.

In January The Advertiser revealed the survey of recreational anglers found support for either a recreational fishing licence or compulsory registration.

The results revealed 19 per cent of the respondents ­wanted a recreational fishing licence that costs under $50 for anglers aged between 15 and 60 years. A further 21 per cent wanted a licence that costs under $50 for anglers between 16 and 60 years, along with cost-free registration for other anglers. And 18 per cent of respondents wanted a stand-alone compulsory cost-free registration for all.

The survey found 37 per cent wanted the status quo to remain.

SA, Queensland and the NT do not require recreational fishing licences. In other states, they range from $32.40 to $56.70, with fees used to fund infrastructure and facilities and extensive restocking programs for freshwater fish.

The state government has consistently maintained a recreational fishing licence will not be introduced unless it is fully supported by the angling community.

The draft strategic plan is available on the MRFAC website https://www.mrfac.org.au/ with consultation open until 30 April 2021.