Survey finds majority of anglers back recreational fishing licence
While recreational fishers would embrace controversial new rules, the government will have to choose one or the other, a survey shows.
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A major survey of recreational anglers has revealed the majority want either a recreational fishing licence or compulsory registration introduced in South Australia.
But while 58 per cent of the respondents in the major government survey supported the contentious moves, more than a third of anglers were opposed to both options.
The survey was conducted by the Minister’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Council and received 4216 responses.
It reveals 37 per cent want the status quo to remain.
Any move to introduce the licence is unlikely immediately, with the MRFAC intending to complete a draft plan for recreational fishing in SA before addressing the licence issue later this year.
The State Government has consistently maintained that a recreational fishing licence will not be introduced unless it is fully supported by the angling community.
Primary Industries Minister David Basham yesterday said the MRFAC was considering the survey results as it drafted a plan for the future of recreational fishing in SA.
“This draft plan will be released for comment from recreational fishers shortly,’’ he said. The online survey was conducted over six weeks in June and July last year, but the MRFAC declined to release the results despite assurances on its website they would be published.
The results, obtained by The Advertiser, reveal 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 want 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.
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 instrastructure and facilities and extensive restocking programs for freshwater fish.
MRFAC independent chair Sharon Starick said the survey had attracted the highest number of respondents ever for such an initiative and had also identified key “priority areas’’ that were the foundation for the development of the draft strategic plan that will be released for public consultation in March.
Ms Starick said the survey results indicated to MRFAC it was “time to have a conversation’’ around a recreational fishing licence.
“It does not mean that tomorrow there’s going to be a recreational fishing licence for instance,’’ she said.
“It pointed to the sector to actually being willing to talk about this and talk through what are all the options and why would we consider going down this path. We need to make sure if, and I say if, we go down this path we need to get it right.’’
Fishing identity Shane Mensforth said the Victorian model showed the benefits the recreational fishing community could achieve by introducing a licence.
“We are undervalued and under-represented as a group and there is no doubt a moderately priced fishing licence would go at least some way toward rectifying this situation,’’ he said.
RecFish SA spokesman Mick Wilson said the survey results were “positive’’.
“For more than 50 per cent of people to show support for something they are unsure of the outcome of is a good start,’’ he said. Mr Wilson said his organisation supported introducing a licence for inland freshwater fishing prior to any licence for marine fishers.
Joe Kane, 69, and son Robert, 32, who regularly fish off West Beach, Port Broughton and Stansbury, said they did not support a fishing licence and were unclear on where any licence fee revenue would be spent.
“We pay enough now in boat and trailer registration fees, along with boat ramp launching fees, which cost $15 at West Beach today,’’ Joe Kane said.
Snapper season starts, but it comes with a catch
Anglers targeting snapper in the South-East of the state from today have been urged to comply with new bag limits and mandatory catch reporting.
The new bag limit was two snapper per person, and a boat limit of six fish.
Primary Industries Minister David Basham said it was imperative anyone catching a snapper in the South-East from today also reported their catch via the SA Fishing app or the Fishwatch hotline.
“We are pleased to be able to open up snapper fishing in the South-East this year to all anglers,” Mr Basham said.
“After receiving feedback from the Minister’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Council and the Snapper Management Advisory Committee, we have introduced new bag and boat limits and mandatory reporting to replace last year’s snapper tag trial.
“In 2020, even though over 3000 snapper tags were distributed to anglers, only 452 snapper were actually caught in the South East. This year’s recreational allocation of 1077 snapper until June 30, 2021, is more than double the actual recreational catch from last year.”
The snapper season would be open in the South-East until June 30, 2021.
Snapper fishing remained banned in all remaining state waters until the end of February 2023. The SA Fishing app had been downloaded more than 12,000 times since the new measures were announced last year.
Any snapper catch must be reported via the SA Fishing app or by calling Fishwatch, after returning to shore, on 1800 065 522.
Originally published as Survey finds majority of anglers back recreational fishing licence
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