National Recreational Fishing Conference

[ACTAngler]

Saw this on another fishing forum.

National Recreational Fishing Conference an opportunity to share a vision

The 2nd National Conference on Recreational Fishing will be held on the 17th and 18th October at the Rydges Hotel, Capital Hill in Canberra. A workshop to identify research needs and investment priorities for the recreational fishing sector will be held on the 20th and 21st at the same venue.

Presented by Recfish Australia in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the conference theme is "Recreational fishing 2020 - a shared vision".

"We hope to have representation from each state and territory as well as national organisations, not only from the recreational fishing sector but also from the management agencies. We really want to know where they see the future of recreational fishing." Said Len Olyott, Recfish CEO.

The conference will focus on the challenges facing recreational fishing which include: sustainability of fish stocks; developing partnerships between fishers, the industry, the community and government and establishing a secure funding base for the sector.

The workshop will focus on national priorities for recreational fishing and continue to develop the Recfishing Research Business, Investment and Extension Plan.

The conference is open to anyone with an interest in recreational fishing but both the conference and workshop will have a special focus on capturing the needs and vision of the next generation of recreational fishers. "We seem to hear from the same people all the time and it is a real concern about where the next generation of leaders is going to come from". Conference registration costs $200 which includes the Recfishing Awards dinner on the Friday night.

For more information about the conference and the awards, go to the Recfish Australia webpage www.recfish.com.au or contact Len Olyott on 0427 073 356.

END

Media enquires to Len Olyott 0427073356

Recfish Australia is the peak body representing the interests of Australia's recreational fishers. Its mission is One voice promoting sustainable fishing and representing recreational fishers at a national level.

[sandfly]

 ATCangler,
               Please supply more information, adgenda,speakers etc
                       
                           
           

[ACTAngler]

I don't know any more about it than what I found on the Recfish website.  Give Len a call I suppose.

[ACTAngler]

The conference program has been posted http://www.recfish.com.au/conference/National%20Recreational%20Fishing%20Conference%20Program.pdf

[ACTAngler]

I could only attend the Friday Dinner/Presentation Night and Saturday, but I found it a quite enlightening and encouraging experience.  Rec fishers, fisheries managers and government departmental reps in the same room, discussing the future of rec fishing with a shared vision.  Hopefully the next step is action!

Were any ECOfishers there?  I didn't have time to meet everyone.

[ACTAngler]

No ECOfishers members attended?  That's a shame, it really was a "who's-who" of recreational anglers from around the country.  The contacts I made have been invaluable so far.

[CEO]

  ECOfishers weren't interested. They attended one of those meetings in Brisbane a few years ago and found it failed to meet the needs of NSW recreational fishers by a country mile. So they elected not to attend or fund representatives. ECOfishers was invited to make a presentation at the all important Australian Society for Fish Biology International Conference this year, about the same time, where the real science, research and future directions were tabled and discussed by the "who's who" of Australian fishing. We didn't just go for the feed. We were there every day at workshops, representing NSW recreational fishers. So successful was it that ECOfishers has been invited again next year to Perth. ECOfishers gleaned a lot more from that Conference than the Brisbane talk fest. ECOfishers three representatives decided it was a total waste of time and money in Brisbane. It didn't address the real issues confronting NSW recreational fishers.  Not at all.
  It's not a shame at all. ECOfishers decide where the  best value is and decide appropriately and accordingly. It is NSW recreational fishers who decide where their representatives should and should not go. They want value for their money. Past experiences clearly demonstrated there was little value for NSW recreational fishers money at Recfish do's. So they voted not to support it. Recfish doesn't even measure up with the Australian Society for Fish Biology.

[CEO]

   The three ECOfisher's representatives at the Brisbane recfish talkfest a couple of years ago, were Prof. Jon Jenkins, Rod Burston and our current CEO. All three wrote independent reports and evaluations of that meeting. Some of the comments, understandably, were quite critical of the meeting management, agenda and chairmanship. Those three reports and evaluations were then combined into one ECOfishers evaluation and forwarded to John Harrison. There was no value whatsoever from that meeting for NSW ECOfishers. NSW government marine parks weren't even allowed to be discussed and one of the recfish presenters, (a Qlder) even attempted to argue with the audience about what you could and could not do in NSW marine parks, until he was howled down by the audience.
 No value there for NSW recreational fishers wanting some input, information, and policy about NSW marine parks and their unnecessary fisheries closures. Waste of time and waste of money! No leadership, no direction, no democracy and no policy! Waste of space. So cn't justify going back.

[NFORCR]

Unfortunately i found the same at South West Rocks conferance.
It was like a tale of Mythbusters without the facts to back it up unfortunately.
Once Ken took to the stage i found he was able to find 4 dead sea horses near a water outlet and which side of the boundary a fish could swim.
The Chairman somehow was pushed to take questions on the floor and any one with valid arguments was not able to voice in the meeting.
Shoving Morey out of the way when you thought you were on a roll showed how loyal you are to even your Fellow EcoFisher Board Members.
Your speech seemed rehearsed and not factual.

But Joining EcoFisher's was the no.1 priority of the meeting.
At the Conclusion of the meeting a motion was put forward to be able to use the funds to proceed with further lobbying on behalf of EcoFishers yet 70% of the crowd were headed for the doors. Not one person second' the motion let alone was their a chorum for a majority vote to pass. Actually no one voted.
Unfortunately Ken What have you achieved through EcoFishers other than running from Whiting Thru to Wobbegong's.
You need more than your mouth if your going to stand up to the extreme Greens.

I love my fishing too but siding for a sneaky liberal leadership to protect our valuable fishing grounds will do us no better whilst the greens are around. Liberal or Labour will do the same stalemate moves whilst the greens are holding them to ransom.
Better off siding with partys that are standing up to the greens disgraceful tactics like the shooters party or other such partys.

EcoFishers money would be better off spent gathering hard scientific evidence to back up the claims rather than touring round the coast to rally up support for a liberal leadership.

[ACTAngler]

   The three ECOfisher's representatives at the Brisbane recfish talkfest a couple of years ago, were Prof. Jon Jenkins, Rod Burston and our current CEO. All three wrote independent reports and evaluations of that meeting. Some of the comments, understandably, were quite critical of the meeting management, agenda and chairmanship. Those three reports and evaluations were then combined into one ECOfishers evaluation and forwarded to John Harrison. There was no value whatsoever from that meeting for NSW ECOfishers. NSW government marine parks weren't even allowed to be discussed and one of the recfish presenters, (a Qlder) even attempted to argue with the audience about what you could and could not do in NSW marine parks, until he was howled down by the audience.
 No value there for NSW recreational fishers wanting some input, information, and policy about NSW marine parks and their unnecessary fisheries closures. Waste of time and waste of money! No leadership, no direction, no democracy and no policy! Waste of space. So cn't justify going back.

I'd love to have a read of these reports Ken.  Can you email them to me please?

I guess, as a National Conference, it wasn't just focussed on state issues, but broader, National ones.  Out of the meeting you did attend, Recfish developed their MPA policy.  Did you have any input?  Do you agree with the Policy?

[Open Oyster]

   Fortunately your views are not shared by the majority of folks who attended the rally at South West Rocks and already further rallies are planned in the coming months.  You say the address was not factual please present evidence.
  So NFORCR it appears that you have other loyalties rather than ECOfishers and your attack on Ken Thurlow demonstrates this.  Let's hear other ways to protect the fishing fraternity. The Hooters Party certainly isn't the answer as they had a chance to block these Marine Parks but voted with the Government to create them. We can't trust them again.
   Your posting is no doubt politically inspired and no doubt without basis as you warble away. You relate to 70% had left the room, your comments make me wonder why you were not with them?
    ECOfishers represents RECREATIONAL FISHERS not political parties as we continue to negotiate with all political parties. ECofishers tell it as it is and at present the opposition offers more hope for recreational fishers than other parties. A revitalised Fishing Party would certainly attract attention.
 AcorF is another Government body which is not supported by ECOfisher. They are a Government appointed body making decisions for the government not for recreational fishers. Recent funding given to the government from our licence fees demonstrates this.
    Please show your credentials and achievements for recreational fishers.
    The community has show whom it supports with the large number of new members and it wasn't you.

  

[NFORCR]

Unfortunately I'm just a regular Aussie Fisherman so my credentials obviously aren't up to your standards to be able to voice my opinion.
When i said 70% had left the room i did not mean they fishos and other supporters had stormed out. As that is definitely not what happened but the crowd had assumed the meeting had concluded and were walking out when the motion was put forward so i am sorry for the mis interpretation but i did not see any one who understood that a motion was put forward.

Their is no political motivation on my part but their were responses made by ken about labour but he was quite supportive toward a liberal member on the north coast who he is supporting over the next 18 months and if libs make state election will supposedly support the fishos so I'm sorry if you if you do not feel their was politics involved but i did feel their was political motivation their and i could not understand the benefit of that in the room for a meeting that was to be about fishos and the fishing future.
He said That if liberal were to get in that these parks would stay in place till the 5 year review and even at that stage might not be removed either so at this stage what was the purpose of the speech on libs.

[Open Oyster]

  ENFORCR thanks for your reply and I better understand your position.  At the moment the only real hope to restrict these marine parks appears to be through a Liberal /National government They appear the most likely to listen, and of course the Fishing Party. Ken has told it as it is. Maybe it could take five years and a lot of hard bargaining but at least that is a start. The rational being the legislation  passed by the Labor/Green agreement with the support of the Shooters Party dictate these numbers without major legislation.
  Although ECOfishers is not politically orientated it is important to talk to all parties and then express our beliefs on who is most likely to be sympathetic to the Recreational Fishers cause. Firstly to our members and then the public in general. Sadly at the moment that is not the Labor Party.
  As a Fisher I understand your fears. Debate and opinions are basic to ECOfishers culture.
    I suggest you read Professor Kearney's Papers, on this website, for further information
             

[Malcolm Poole]

Hey Guys,

Good to see some clearing up of the muddy waters happening.

Lets get some points clear, and I agree with Open Oyster there are many hard yards and a lot of talk required to make any changes to what exists today, or what others may propose, be it NGO's (like NPA), Agencies or the Political scene, when it comes to NSW?s MPA?s.

We still have no answers relating to the SIMP and JB MPA reviews which closed last year, why and where are things up to?

It is highly unlikely that NSW MPA's will be removed entirely by any State Government or Political Party as they form part of the Commonwealth's and World Wide MPA picture, so lets get that fixed in our heads as we (NSW) are only a pimple in the overall bigger debate. Legislation is place to do provide areas of marine biodiversity protection, it will need major changes at both levels of government, top down, if MPA?s are to have any major change, and it will take years and possibly not be successful.

As for the State MPA Review process, the MPA Amendment bill passed last year, changed the review periods current MPA?s, being 1st, 5 years, 2nd  + 10 years, any NEW MPA?s it?s 1st review is 10yrs, then every 10yrs, so we will not see any consultation on NEW Marine Parks till after 10yrs of gazettal, interesting hey.

In the meantime ANY research that happens will pick up the global picture of environmental change, mother nature at her best attempting to deal in her way with ?Climate Change?, so it will be difficult to verify through any studies who/what/ actually causes ALL the damage. We do know that green/animal welfare groups will continue their finger pointing at the resource users, but as we know it all starts with the impacts from our human footprint.

Oh, by the way, I should mention to those that don?t know, the Commonwealths MPA process for the East Coast of Australia, i.e. Cape York to Eden is to happen in 2009 so we are in for more MPA?s outside 3NM to the EEZ with recreational fishing restrictions possibly being under the EPBC Act and not State Fisheries rules unless we ALL get involved now.

This is happening in the South West as we speak and the North very soon.

So get use to it, the NSW and Australian public have been ?hoodwinked? to coin Prof. Bob Kearny?s word. I must note that the Commonwealth (generally not Politically motivated) is more likely to listen to recreational fishers who present constructive concerns and solution, as has been proven in the past with the South East consultation and current public negotiations.

Here are some links if you care to know more;
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/index.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/east/index.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/publications/east/pubs/east-news-2.pdf

[Malcolm Poole]

Why do I get ? where I put in a '.