Recfishwest concerned about Fishing Fund
Budget cuts could deny fishers important projects in the WestRecfishwest says the future of the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF) is under threat following the release of the State Budget.
The Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF) was created in 2011 to reinvest a proportion of recreational fishing licence fees back into projects that directly benefit recreational fishing.
Prior to the last election the Government promised to allocate 25 per cent of fishing licence fees into the RFIF.
Recfishwest is concerned the RFIF is to be cut by almost 50 per cent and has bought this to the Government’s attention.
The RFIF is widely acclaimed for supporting better fishing through enhancement, development and conservation projects.
This cut could immediately result in:
>> No artificial reef for Mandurah,
>> No more prawns stocked into the Swan River,
>> A decrease in fishing safety outcomes,
>> No state-wide deployment of Fish Aggregation Devices,
>> No more stocking of Mulloway or Pink Snapper,
>> No Restoration of estuary habitats in Albany,
>> No fish friendly farms program for WA,
>> No leadership development for young recreational fishers,
Any raid on the fund will also impact a range of future programs delivering benefits to the recreational fishing community.
Recfishwest says it is calling on the people's representatives in parliament to make this right.
"We are pleased to see support from WA Labor and the Shooters and Fishers Party for this election commitment and for recognising the value of the RFIF," said a statement released by Recfishwest.
Since its inception, the RFIF has invested $6.5 million of licence fees into projects including artificial reefs, youth development and education programs, biological research on important recreational species, Fish Aggregation Devices, fishing safety and the stocking of millions of prawns and tens of thousands of barramundi and mulloway.
For more information on the RFIF and to see the fantastic benefits it has already delivered click
here.
Credit: Opening three photos courtesy Recfishwest FB page.
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