BEST PRACTICES IN RECREATIONAL FISHING

Desired Outcome: Recreational fishing practices are sustainable, ethical and humane.

SIGNFICANCE OF ISSUE

Basic statistics on recreational fishing are essential to enable recreational fishing bodies to engage in debates on national issues such as Government fisheries policy development, increasing funding for recreational fishing, recreational fishers' rights and resource allocation.

CURRENT STATUS

The 2000 National Survey of Recreational Fishing produced the first national statistics on recreational fishing in relation to participation, fishing effort, catch, expenditure, attitudes and awareness. A number of attempts to initiate a follow-up survey have been unsuccessful.

Most States are undertaking their own surveys to meet their own priorities and the focus has shifted to how to develop national statistics based on data collected through State and other programs.

PRIORITY AREAS FOR INVESTMENT

The priorities in relation to best practices in releasing fish are the extension of material promoting best practices. There has been considerable research in this area and significant new knowledge is available. Getting this information into recreational fisher networks and to recreational fishers is the priority. The key areas for extension are:
 

 Best practices in releasing fish;

 Best practices in killing fish humanely;

 Best practices for fishing competitions;

 National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing.

Prior to the wind-up of the Released Fish Survival program from 2007/08 the priorities under the strategy were identified as:

 Promotion and extension of best practices for the release of line-caught fish;

 Pelagics, in particular mackerel species, and billfish;

 Reduction of mortality from deep hooking;

SIGNIFICANCE OF ISSUE

There is a need to clearly define the best practices that should be used by recreational fishers. The survival of released fish remains an issue as an ever growing proportion of the recreational catch is released due to more stringent regulations and increasing voluntary release of fish. Fish welfare is a growing concern among animal rights groups and in the broader community. Fishing competitions are coming under increased scrutiny from environmental groups, animal rights groups and by the broader community.

CURRENT STATUS

 The National Strategy for the Survival of Released Fish was an initiative of FRDC and ran from July 2001 to April 2008. This program involved research and the promotion of best practices in releasing fish by recreational fishers (Gently Does It). A total of 20 projects involving an investment of $7.2m has resulted in a significant increase in understanding of best practices and the survival rates for a range of key species. Some projects, including Murray cod survival, are continuing.

Material is available on how to kill fish humanely when they are intended to be eaten and the Released Fish Survival program has provided information on best practices in releasing fish. Fact sheets are available from the Recfishing Research website. Recfish Australia has issued a new National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing which deals with humane killing of fish.

Recfish Australia has developed National Environmental Assessment for Tournament Fishing (NEATFish) to International Standard ISO17050 for the assessment of business/ public recreational fishing competitions. The assessment process results in a 1-5 star rating based on a competition’s environmental, social and economic performance and the management of public risk. DigsFish Services has been licensed by Recfish Australia for the implementation of NEATFish and a website is currently being developed to allow online assessment.

In some States, fisheries agencies are working with competition organisers to introduce codes of practice or to regulate competitions.

RECFISHING RESEARCH STRATEGIC RESPONSE

 Released fish survival RD&E will continue as a priority under Recfishing Research. Many of the priorities established under the National Strategy have been addressed and our knowledge significantly improved. New priorities were identified for 2007/08 onwards. It is expected that further projects addressing fish survival issues will be developed.

 Research into a range of other recreational fishing practices may be required to achieve improvements. Some practices such as the correct disposal of fishing line do not need research but require an education or extension program. Such extension could be funded from sources dealing with managing rubbish disposal.

Fishing competitions are being addressed through NEATFish which assesses their performance in dealing with environmental, social, economic and risk management issues.

PROGRESS TO DATE

	The Released Fish Survival program extended data on the survival rate from 4 to 21 species with a further 7 species now added to that list. There has also been a significant improvement in knowledge of the effects of barotrauma and deep hooking as well as best practices in releasing fish. A 2008 national mail out of information products generated as part of the Gently Does It program promoted best practices in releasing fish including a DVD based on the research and printed material on fish survival and best practices. Released Fish Survival information products can be downloaded from www.recfishingresearch.org or hard copies can be obtained from shirley@info-fish.net.
	NSW Fisheries has undertaken research that has provided survival rates for 12 species. A new poster has been produced and Recfishing Research is assisting in its distribution.
	Recfish Australia has released an updated National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing. The original code was developed in 1995 and revised in 2008.
	AFTA has commissioned a report on "Promoting an Environmentally Sustainable Future for Recreational Fishing" by Ernst and Young. The report is currently in draft form and is expected to be released early in 2009/10.

PROJECTS RECFISHING RESEARCH IS MONITORING

FRDC project 2008/215: “Tactical Response Fund: Implementation of NEATFish environmental standard for recreational fishing tournaments” Recfish Australia and DigsFish Services: Ben Diggles ben@digsfish.com

Timeframe: October 2008 - October 2009 NEATFish website: www.neatfish.com

FRDC project 2008/058: “Biology, fisheries and status of Longtail Tuna, with special reference to recreational fisheries in Australian waters” CSIRO project: Shane Griffiths shane.griffiths@csiro.au

Timeframe: Sept 2008 - Sept 2009 but applying for an extension to enable a survey to be completed