Industry supports Sydney fishing haven

The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) has asked the next Government of New South Wales to establish Sydney’s iconic waterways as a world-class recreational fishing haven.

AFTA, the national peak body representing the suppliers of goods and services to Australia’s five-million recreational fishers, has submitted a letter titled, A New Vision for Recreational Fishing in NSW, which asks the leaders of the major political parties to established and manage Sydney’s waterways (Sydney Harbour, Hawkesbury River and Botany Bay) as a world-class recreational fishing haven.

"Establishing the three major waterways of Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour and Hawkesbury River as a world-class recreational fishing haven was a long time vision of fishing legend [late] John Dunphy. We are asking for the next NSW Government to complete his vision by adding Sydney Harbour and Hawkesbury to Botany Bay, that is already established as a recreational fishing haven," AFTA Chief Executive Allan Hansard said.

"More than 1 million residents of NSW go fishing each year and spend an estimated $3.4 billion doing so. The economic, social and environmental benefits of creating a network of recreational fishing havens, starting with the Sydney recreational fishing havens will be significant and will overtime surpass any structural adjustment in commercial fisheries or other activities required to implement them.

"This will see the fisheries of these areas managed first and foremost to maximise the benefits of recreational fishing. This means that commercial fishing and other activities that have an unsustainable impact on our key fisheries, impact on important and sensitive marine habitat or result in localised depletion of key recreational fishing species close to shore or recreational fishing access points will be appropriately curtailed or removed.

"We have already seen both the new Victorian and Queensland Governments move to establish net free recreational fishing havens in their states, as part of their election promises. This is because they have recognised the significant economic benefit of recreational fishing to local communities, as well as promoting a healthy outdoors lifestyle.

"This is a true win-win situation. It would generate much needed economic activity for the state, would create real marine conservation benefits and protect fish stocks for future generations. Sydney’s waterways would become a truly family-fishing friendly place," Mr Hansard said.

AFTA says it welcomes the response of the major parties and looks forward to working with the next Government of NSW in establishing the world-class Sydney recreational fishing haven.