NSW fishing advisory council confirmed

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, has confirmed a new advisory body, Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council, will be established to provide independent advice to Government on key recreational fishing issues in NSW.

"The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government announced this new consultative approach in February, to ensure the council best represents and communicates the views of regional fishers from right across the State," Minister Blair said.

"I am now calling on regional recreational fishers to nominate for appointment to the Council, to ensure that we have strong representation across the recreational fishing sector."

The NSW Government says it has listened to the feedback from recreational fishing groups, who have been requesting changes to consultation arrangements for recreational fishing in NSW.

Recreational Fishing NSW will replace the existing Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing, which has been in place for almost 20 years.

The Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council will advise the Minister on matters relating to recreational fishing in NSW, including priorities for expenditure from the Recreational Fishing Trust.

The new Council will include eight regional members and two members with expertise in spearfishing and charter boat fishing.

An independent chair will be appointed to head the new Advisory Council.

The Minister said the NSW Government was proud to continue its support for the recreational fishing industry, which generates about $1.6 billion expenditure into the NSW economy each year and creates about 14,000 jobs.

An Expression of Interest information package is now available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/consultation or email rfnsw.enquiries@dpi.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9741 4722.

Expressions of interest close 7 July 2015. Opening photo: Craig McGill, Fishabout Tours. Other pics: David Lockwood.