Recfish Australia forced to move backwards

The peak body representing all Australian recreational fishers, Recfish Australia, has been forced not to renew the CEO's contract and accept the resignation of the Chair of the Board following the rejection of a request for financial support from the Australian Government.

In the week after the government finally released its National Strategy for Recreational Fishing for public comment, it is ironic that Recfish Australia is required to take such dramatic action.  Recfish is repeatedly recognised in the National Strategy for all its past hard work and industry leadership but has now been denied the funding it requires for ongoing representation of the national interests for 3.5 million recreational fishers, providing expert and sound advice to government agencies and the fishing and boating industries.

Recfish Australia has, for the last 27 years represented millions of recreational fishers who annually inject into local and regional economies an estimated 3 - 5 billion dollars. "Recreational fishing is a fundamental component of our Australian way of life." said outgoing Chair Mr Frank Prokop."

Recfish has recently provided a long term self funding options report to Government for their comment, however none of these options will deliver the short term cash injection needed. To date several requests made to government have been met with the same response, "to look elsewhere for a funding stream".

The Australian Government recently renewed its commitment to the nation's commercial fishing industry, by committing $2.6 million to Oceanwatch, funding the SeaNet environmental program. Oceanwatch is a ‘not for profit' organisation focused on sustainable commercial fishing practices. "Recfish Australia sees the Oceanwatch funding as a positive approach by the government and would like the same opportunity extended to Recfish Australia to work with government on sustainability issues." said Mr Prokop.

At its most recent Board meeting, Recfish Australia needed to address these difficult decisions by repositioning the organisation back to its former volunteer run status, with Mr Russell Conway from Victoria as the new Chair.

Recfish Australia member organisations refused to allow such an important peak body to become extinct.  There are just too many recreational fishing issues which require a national presence and perspective, such as the upcoming Commonwealth Marine Bioregional Planning consultation covering vast stretches of coastline and which will involve more bans on fishing using ‘sanctuary zones' around Australia.

The recent Mako Shark debate, which galvanized thousands of fishers into action clearly demonstrated to government the tremendous potential to influence policy when all recreational fishers speak out at a national level over one issue.

Recfish Australia today called on all recreational fishers, fishing tackle and bait retailers and tackle manufacturers to write, or personally visit their federal members of parliament, asking how millions of fishers who contribute billions of dollars annually can so easily lose their ‘One Voice' to government.

Recfish encourages the government to reconsider their decision and engage in meaningful discussions with Recfish Australia.