Electronic catch diaries, fishing licences planned for South Australia
A review of recreational fishing in SA flags a number of changes, including fee hikesSouth Australia’s recreational fishers could soon be recording their catches in electronic diaries as part of a new three-year recreational fishing strategy announced for the state this week.
The Recreational Fishing Strategy for South Australia 2021-2024, the work of the Primary Industries and Regional Development Department’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Council, will look at the introduction of the electronic diaries, as well as look at new ways to fund the strategy.
The strategy is based largely on feedback from a survey of the state’s recreational fishers.
“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,” Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said.
“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.
“This is a practical comprehensive strategy which has been written after extensive consultation with the South Australian recreational fishing sector.
“This is not a government document, it is a strategy prepared by South Australian fishers, for South Australian fishers.”
Fee increases
The strategy flags that costs will rise for recreational fishers, with the strategy flagging the government would “identify current leveraging opportunities” – read that as look for places where it can increase fees – such as the rock lobster pot registration program that charges $80.50 for one pot or $223 for two pots.
As well, the department will look into introducing a recreational fishing licence or a cost-free registration program.
The state will even explore establishing a fund made up of "voluntary contributions" – in other words, donations – from fishers.
However, the strategy hasn’t pleased everyone. Recfish SA, which lobbies on behalf of the state’s estimated 277,000 recreational fishers, said basing the entire strategy on a single survey was flawed.
“A significant failing of the strategy is that it is based on a single poorly constructed survey undertaken by the MRFAC/PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2020, which did not canvass views on all matters considered most important to recreational fishers,” Recfish SA chairman Mick Wilson said in a statement when the draft strategy was released.
“It is silent on the major issue of facilities, resource allocation and access, which have a significant bearing on participation levels in recreational fishing.
“Without addressing such significant issues, the strategy cannot represent a holistic approach to achieving the main objectives for the recreational fishing sector.”
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