Recreational fishers face total catch limit but licences off the table

Plans to introduce recreational licences look to be sunk but SA’s fishing lobby says new total catch limits constitute a broken promise.

SA’s key recreational fishing advisory body is to investigate introducing a total allowable catch for the sector as part of its future strategy.

The move, along with electronic diaries and registration of recreational anglers, is a key measure outlined in the Recreational Fishing Strategy for South Australia.

And while the strategy will also investigate a recreational fishing licence, any such move is likely to be via cost free registration because the state government has ruled out supporting a fee based licence due to a lack of community support.

Labor has also ruled out such a move.

Besides the TARC and electronic diaries, the Ministers Recreational Fishing Advisory Council strategy also outlines measures that include:

Fisheries minister David Basham. Picture: Kelly Barnes

– SEEKING government commitments to ongoing funding proportionate to the value of recreational fishing, or alternatively, explore separate funding resources

– IMPROVING the participation of recreational fishers in research and monitoring projects

– WORKING with recreational fishing groups to increase fishing skills and best practise handling

– WORKING with schools and the Department for Education to identify opportunities to promote recreational fishing as a safe, family friendly and healthy activity.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the strategy contains “practical actions for priority areas of growth’’ for the 277,000 recreational fishers in South Australia.

“South Australia has an incredibly proud recreational fishing sector which plays a key role in the social and economic fabric of our state, contributing more than $160 million,” he said.

“This new recreational fishing strategy, put together by MRFAC, provides practical actions to help grow the sector in a sustainable way and ultimately get more people fishing.

“We know that when people fish there are significant economic benefits because people often stay in regional communities, visit the local tackle shop and eat at local restaurants, which all support jobs.’’

SA Fishing Alliance spokesman Graham Keegan said the strategy “fails to deliver solid commitments for anglers.’’

SA Fishing Alliance spokesman Graham Keegan.

“It also appears that the MRFAC do not understand that setting a total allowable catch for each species based on dubious data from poorly done surveys is a recipe for reducing the communities’ share of the resource,’’ he said.

“The MRFAC promised public inclusion is this document, they did not perform effective consultation, therefore it should have been held back and not put out as claytons offering.

South Australia’s recreational anglers were promised a bright future at last election, sadly that has not happened and this document fails to address this.’’

MRFAC Chair Sharon Starick said the strategy was looking at the key needs of the recreational fishing community over the next three years.

“Incorporating the growth and progress opportunities identified by the 2020 Recreational Fishing Priorities survey, this strategy focuses on both short and medium-term outcomes for the sector to increase stewardship, sustainability and security,’’ she said.

The strategy can found on the MRFAC website: https://www.mrfac.org.au/