New Report Calls For National Campaign To Challenge Threats To Recreational Fishing
 
After years of seeing all manner of threats to recreational fishing from fish kills on major rivers, habitat degradation and urban pollution through to unjustified Marine Park lock-outs the major organisations representing Australia's most popular pastimes have come together by commissioning a report from the former UK politician and Sydney resident Martin Salter on how anglers across the world have united to save their fisheries and their sport.

Mr Salter, who served as Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling under both the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has spent the last three months working on a 54 page report for the Boating and Fishing Council of Australia (BFCA) which will be formally launched at the Sydney Game Fishing Club today (Thursday (April 14).

Key recommendations include:

• The Keep Australia Fishing Campaign - an independent body led by the tackle and boating trades to campaign and lobby on behalf of recreational fishing, to promote the sport amongst young people and to challenge, by all available means, actions and practices that are harmful to fishing and fisheries.
• A new mass membership national peak body - recreational fishing licence holders to be  members of a peak advocacy body
• Independent Recreational Fishery Trust Funds - funded through state licence fee revenues and controlled by the anglers themselves, free from political patronage
• Tougher rules on pollution and habitat degradation - a complete overhaul of allowable chemical discharges into watercourses and possible civil action against polluters
• Ending unwarranted lock-outs of recreational fishers from marine parks - building community support for proper science based conservation measures
• Regular US style surveys on economic benefit - there are an estimated 3 million recreational fishers and a potential economic benefit of up to $10 billion annually (but accurate figures are needed)
• Policy development through an Australian Charter for Angling - the emergence of minority parties representing fishers only highlights the failure of politicians to take anglers concerns seriously.

 Downolad the Report

Executive Summary PDF File 417kb

Final Report PDF File 2.54Mb