Port Lincoln Council leads new call for recreational fishing licences, mandatory catch reporting in SA
Recreational anglers would have to pay to get a fishing licence and report on their catches under new rules proposed for SA. Have your say.
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Recreational fishing licences are back on the agenda, as the popularity of casting a line grows to one in four South Australians and is worth $1bn in economic activity.
A review into the impact of the recreational fishing sector on commercial operations has also been proposed in regards to snapper, King George whiting, garfish and calamari.
Port Lincoln Council will appeal to its 10 Eyre Peninsula counterparts to support its call for better management of recreational fishers at a local government conference on Friday.
It comes as a new State Government strategy, released earlier this month, outlines six goals to grow the recreational fishing tourism sector from $403m to $468m by 2030 which does not include a fishing licence
Port Lincoln Mayor Diana Mislov said they wanted “equitable and fair” licencing arrangements for the marine scale fishery and recreation sector, “so we can improve compliance, data and general management of fish stocks overall.”
In 2021, a major survey showed the majority of recreational fishers supported either a fishing licence or compulsory registration, but the proposal failed to be backed by the government.
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The council believes SA’s 360,000 recreational fishers need to be managed, not just the 200 commercial marine scale fishers, who pay about $2.4m collectively in fees each year.
The marine scale fishery target snapper, King George whiting, southern calamari and southern garfish – which are among the most popular by recreational fishers.
“Commercial fishers have advised they are struggling with the diminishing fish stocks and rising license fees,” the council motion states.
“The MSF are required to report fish catches via an app to ensure compliance with quota and license conditions. In contrast, the 357,000 plus recreational fishers, while having bag limits are under no obligation to report catches.”
The council wants the government to impose a “modest” licence fee be imposed and exemptions could apply to shore-based fishers to allow parents and children to fish from jetties.
It also suggests an SA Fishing app used to record snapper catches in the South East be used year-round to create an ongoing database of recreational fishing catches.
South Australia, Queensland and the NT remain the only jurisdictions not to charge recreational fishers for casting a line.
Other states charge anywhere from $10 for a three-day licence, $22.70 for 28 days, or $40 per year for a boat and $50 a year for net fishing.
Ahead of the 2022 state election, both parties said they would not introduce fishing licences – despite a push by RecFish SA to help pay for fishing projects and infrastructure.
RecFish SA chairman Asher Dezsery said the issue had gone “back and forth” between governments and they must “listen to what the community want” through a consultation.
“One of the community’s biggest concerns is that money (raised) needs to be hypothecated, or locked up for the expenditure of rec fishing projects and result in the elimination of other fees, such as the boat ramp fee,” Mr Dezsery said.
“Interstate pay for recreational fishing licences, but they don’t pay a boat launching fee. Here, in SA, we pay a boat levy fee, as well as for launching a boat each time.”
Mr Dezsery feared mandatory reporting of catches would be a burden and suggested the Primary Industries Department survey the sector each year on its catch.
The department’s last surveys to understand the sector’s impact on fish stocks were conducted in 2021/22, 2013/14 and 2007/08.
Marine Fisher Association executive member and part-time commercial fisher Shannon Cornelius said without better regulation of Tier 1 fish species, such as King George whiting, commercial fishers would become “non viable”.
“Years ago we had just over 300 commercial licenses and now we’ve gone to 197 and we’re at the point where we’re almost non viable,” Mr Cornelius said.
“If you look at the 2021/22 survey, the commercial catch of King George whiting in the Spencer Gulf was 62 tonnes, at the same time rec fishers caught 147 tonnes.
“Let’s put it in perspective, the entire SA commercial catch of whiting was 167 tonne, but yet the entire recreation catch was 305 tonne.
“We believe the recreational catch is far higher than the estimate. You only have to look at the number of boats on the water, that’s why we want mandatory reporting of the catch.”
Mr Cornelius said the app being used to record snapper catches should be rolled out statewide to recreational fishers which has been “effective and manageable”.
Port Lincoln recreational fisherman Jack Papadopoulos, 27, drops a line in everyday with his two young boys at the local wharf and said the prospect of needing a licence to do so was “bulls**t”.
“It’s disappointing they are talking about charging people to get out of the house and go fishing,” he said.
“With the cost of living I think a lot of people would avoid going fishing all together. It would stop a lot of families.
“You’re buying bait anyway so you’re supporting that industry, you’re supporting the local tackle shops as it is.
“It would be a big uproar here, especially in Port Lincoln where we are the mecca for seafood and fishing. It’s the talk of the town and if it goes through I don’t think many people would be happy.”
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the government was not considering a recreational fishing licence and no proposal had been put forward by the sector.
“There has not been a formal approach by the recreational sector to government to consider a recreational fishing licence,” Ms Scriven said.
“In a survey conducted in 2021 by the former Marshall Liberal Government, a range of options showed opinions varied greatly about the issue, and they did not progress anything from it.
“In delivering an election commitment to re-empower RecFish SA as in independent voice for recreational fishing in South Australia, consultation with the recreational sector largely takes place through RecFish SA.
“The State Government is in regular contact with RecFish SA to advance matters of interest to the recreational fishing community.”
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Originally published as Port Lincoln Council leads new call for recreational fishing licences, mandatory catch reporting in SA
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