ECOfishers UNIVERSITY GIG.

[CEO]

    ECOfishers NSW, has again been invited this year, to present a series of lectures to the Fisheries Management students, in their final year, at Southern Cross University. Our series of lectures will address current "recreational fishing issues." Crikey, what a golden opportunity to explore, with the fisheries managers of the future, the scientific, environmental, social and economic shortcomings of NSW marine parks!!!
      Will ECOfishers accept the invitation again this year? Is the Pope still a catholic?

[CEO]

   Any member really keen to do a series of one hour lectures, commencing in April this year, on prescribed topics, at Southern Cross Uni, you know who and how, to contact us. We are able to provide the material and a "crash course" in education - rather than lecturing! We have plenty of experienced members in our team. Don't be shy now!

[CEO]

 .....and yes, our female members are just as welcome and as eligible as the blokes. After all, not all fisheries managers are male!

[CEO]

   Only one qualified ECOfisher marine scientist and fishery biologist has expressed any interest so far. And that is because he is retired. Come on ECOfishers, we can do  that!

[CEO]

 Gotcha! Thanks Peter. We can make it a team effort to share the load. Th fees aren't anything fancy but that is not the important part. The ECOfishers message is!

[CEO]

     .....and ECOfishers has just been invited to do anotherr University gig, with Fisheries this time, at another Uni. It is getting difficult to keep up with all our committments. We need more members! More hands make light work! Your ECOfishers "road show," is about to take off again. We will be touring the state meeting with you and all our new members, attending your meetings, conducting ECOfisher rallies, doing the media and spreading the good oil - though it may be a little thinner this time.
    ECOFISHERS IN DEMAND:  Folks, if you give us plenty of notice (1 month at least) about your function, meeting, rally, fund raiser, presentation night etc, we will do our best to be there, to present and  assist the noble cause. We have capable and qualified people, who can assist, now from the Victorian border to Queensland - and beyond soon!

[CEO]

  FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: What a complex issue. Anyone want to add their two bobs worth? Anyone interested in seeing ECOfishers perspective on this complex and complicated issue? The series of lectures we are presenting to the final year students, on fisheries management? We can all learn from a sharing of ideas on this issue.
  We have titled some of our lectures as "Fisheries Management - A Contemporary View."

[CEO]

   ECOfishers reckons, FISHERIES MANAGEMENT involves 3 key issues.
                  1) monitoring
                  2) assessing
                  3) managing.
 Assessing involves having a clearly defined aim; estimating one or more dimension, (eg size, complexity, durability; impact or value. Estimating involves assumptions and assumptions need to be tested.
  There needs to be a link between planning processes (instruments) and the application of evidence-based management strategies.
  In fisheries management, most of the data comes from some type of assessment of stocks and habitat, fishing practices and/or the values and attitudes of fishers.
  Environmental management of a resource is based upon a scientific evaluation of its sustainability.
  Fishery Management Plans ought include:-
    a) management objectives for the resource
    b) a list of stocks and activities covered by the plan.
    c) an identification of key stakeholders.
    d) information about the access and harvest rights.
    e) measures to protect stocks, habitats, non-target species and ecological processes.
    f) include performance indicators, to gauge success.
    g) ECOfishers says public participation (as opposed to consultation) is essential.
Currently, all Commonwealth fisheries and export orientated state fisheries (Spanner Crab fishery) are subject to assessment under the Commonwealth's Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Act (1999)
 Other state based commercial fisheries are subject to formal management plans.
                    RECREATIONAL FISHERIES:

[CEO]

 There is a brief outline of our first lecture of one hour with a half hour set aside for questions. Recreational fisheries management will comprise our second lecture, of the same duration.
  No wonder it is difficult to get ECOfishers to do these presentations for the Uni, - they'd rather be fishing!

[CEO]

  Crikey! Thank goodness that is all over again, until next year. Interesting how groups of Uni students vary from year to year. Thank you also to Peter and all those who contributed to share the load. It is very much appreciated. See you all  again next year, for the next exciting episode in the life cycle of a resource manager!