RecFish SA paid $125,000 to push positive message on SA’s marine parks
THE state’s peak recreational fishing body struck a $125,000 deal with the Government to sell the positive aspects of controversial marine parks to anglers, it has been revealed.
THE state’s peak recreational fishing body struck a $125,000 deal with the Government to sell the positive aspects of controversial marine parks to anglers, it has been revealed.
The revelation that RecFish SA is being paid to promote the marine parks, which was not revealed to its committee or the state’s 200,000 anglers, is revealed in Freedom of Information documents that detail the extensive 12-month strategy.
The first stage of the Marine Parks legislation came into force in South Australia last year, while the final stage – no-take zones – will come into force later this year. The zones have prompted concerns from both recreationaland professional anglers, who will be banned from fishing in them.
TELL US: Are no-take zones a good idea?
The FOI documents also show RecFish SA was paid almost $33,000 in October 2012 for promoting marine parks at several industry functions in the Riverland and the city.
The $32,964 bill included payments to RecFish executives Gary Flack, the former executive director, and current chairman Brenton Schahinger of $8,383.50 and $303,75 respectively for their services.
More: Download GPS files and maps of the marine parks here
The 12-month contract with Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter was signed on March 20, 2013. It provides for monthly payments from that date – $20,000 in March and $15,000 for the remaining 11 months – and lists all promotional activities RecFish SA will undertake to fulfil the contract.
Mr Schahinger said he did not believe the contract was a conflict because the organisation was wholly funded by government and that recreational anglers had benefited through SARFAC’s interaction with government on the issue.
“The number of sanctuary zones were cut in half through our involvement in the process,’’ he said. “And importantly, we got some spawning and nursery area protection that wasn’t there before.’’
He said the contract arose after RecFish told the Government the recreational anglers was confused over the various zones within marine parks. It was suggested the organisation launch education initiatives, but funded by government because of its limited resources.
He said the contract was not a secret, but conceded the executive had not advised committee members because “of a communications breakdown’’ and the contract would be reviewed later this month.
It was not likely to be continued because of some of the promotional expectations within it.
Publisher of South Australian Angler magazine Shane Mensforth said the contract between RecFish SA and the government was a conflict of interest. “This contract, which was obviously made behind closed doors, demonstrates clearly that recreational anglers in this state cannot trust their ‘peak’ body.’’
“I have always been under the impression that the mandate of RecFish SA is to represent our recreational anglers at government level, providing a reliable and truthful voice for all of us,’’ he said.
One RecFish SA committee member told The Advertiser he was “gobsmacked’’ to learn of the contract earlier this week.
“It is not our job to be selling this on behalf of the government,’’ he said.
“Many, many anglers do not like the prospect of being locked out of their fishing grounds and now find out we have done a deal to smooth it over with them for the government.
“It is not a good look for us and I think every angler will be upset to learn we have done this.’’