AFTA Chairs Report April 2023

NSW Election

The NSW election was held on March 25, and congratulations go to Premier Chris Minns for winning, but that being said, the NSW ALP is governing in the minority with only 45 of the 47 seats required to have the majority on the floor.

AFTA’s concern is that the votes they rely on to form a government and pass legislation are of the left-wing green persuasion, which may not be great for our industry.

We also have a new Minister, Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture. AFTA is seeking a meeting as soon as possible to commence building a solid relationship with the Minister.

We remind all NSW Politicians that in NSW, 1 in 5 people participate in recreational fishing, which delivers $3.9 billion to the NSW economy, and we will not be taken for granted.

Northern Territory

Congratulations must go to the NT Government on the success of Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish, with $230,000 given away to the fishos lucky enough to reel in one of the 20 caught red-tagged barramundi.

For Season 9, see details here.

Tasmania

The proposed rule changes for the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery are now open for public comment until May 29 2023. The proposed amendments to the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015 apply to commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal fishing.

It includes:

• reviewing size, bag and possession limits for depleted and depleting species for all fishers;
• introducing regional and statewide rules for depleted and depleting species;
• introducing two new commercial calamari licence types;
• reviewing recreational gillnetting arrangements; and
• introducing registration of charter fishing operations and reporting requirements.

Click here for details.

Queensland Government / GBRMPA

The Public Consultation period on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority “Draft Policy on Fish Aggregating Devices and Artificial Reefs” closed on April 13 2023. 

Important to note:  AFTA recognises that currently, there are no Fish Attracting Devices (FADs) or purposed Artificial Reefs (AR) within the GBRMP, there are of course, reefs, artificial in nature, that have come to be through the tragic loss of vessels and aircraft throughout time.

Read AFTA’s submission here.

Queensland Government Fishery Working Group – seeking members

Fisheries Queensland is currently seeking a range of stakeholders to join 14 fishery working groups, including commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, seafood marketers and processes, conservation representatives and First Nations peoples.

If you are interested in being involved in providing your expertise and knowledge to the management of Queensland’s fisheries, please put in an expression of interest.

More information on working groups and the nomination form can be found in the link below.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries | Fishery Working Groups (engagementhub.com.au)

You can also comment on proposed changes to the Working Group Guidelines through the above link. These guidelines outline the process for the assessment, selection and appointment of members to fisheries working groups.

Nominations and comments are open until Sunday, 21 May.

Ministerial Meetings

As the National Recreational Fishing Peak Body representing, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Retail, Media, and Guides/Charter operators and, through that, engagement with all anglers, it is important that Ministers across Australia understand AFTA, our history and our role in the Recreational Fishing Industry.

Victoria:

The meeting on April 20 with The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Victorian Minister for Outdoor Recreation, has been postponed due to health issues, with a new date to be set.

With the National Recreational Fishing Survey results showing Victoria having a 16% participation rate and contributing $2.3b to the Victorian GDP, it is vital to meet and discuss the concerns and ideas of our members.

Our agenda for the meeting is as follows:

1. To introduce AFTA, our history and our role in the Recreational Fishing Industry.
2. Promote AFTA as the National Recreational Fishing Peak Body representing, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Retail, Media, and Guides/Charter operators and, through that, engagement with all anglers.
3. Build a solid personal relationship with the new Minister.
4. Discuss how AFTA can assist the government in good policy delivery as we did with the Gippsland Lakes Commercial Netting legislation (Minister Jaala Pulford, October 2019) and riverfront access on leasehold property in the Parks & Crown Land Amendment (Minister Melissa Horne, November 2020).
5. Discuss the 60,000 Little Anglers Kits program, its design and delivery
6. Westernport Bay fishery & the dramatic decrease in snapper numbers
7. Advocate for adopting the LNP election policy of centralising boat ramps management across Western Port Bay and Port Phillip Bay and associated land and parking to Better Boating Victoria. This was Coalition policy, but it makes sense from a management/outcomes point of view.

Retail Outlets:

BCF/Anaconda Stores:        45 Outlets

Tackle Stores:                        206 Stores

Wholesalers:                          25

KMART/Big W:                    115

Plus, all of the smaller sideline businesses, e.g. Petrol Stations, General Stores

South Australia:

The meeting on April 21 with The Hon. Clare Scriven, South Australian Minister for Primary Industries, has been postponed to May 10 due to illness.

Our agenda for the meeting is as follows:

With the National Recreational Fishing Survey results showing South Australia having a 26% participation rate and contributing $1.0b to the SA GDP, it is crucial to meet and discuss the concerns and ideas of our members.

1. To introduce AFTA, our history and our role in the Recreational Fishing Industry.
2. Promote AFTA as the National Recreational Fishing Peak Body representing, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Retail, Media, and Guides/Charter operators and, through that, engage with all anglers.
3. Build a strong personal relationship with the new Minister.
4. Let’s Fish SA Program
5. Snapper Closures

SA Retail Outlets:

BCF/Anaconda Stores:      18 Outlets

Tackle Stores:                      79 Stores

Wholesalers:                        4

KMART/Big W:                  38

Plus, all of the smaller sideline businesses, e.g. Petrol Stations, General Stores

If you have items to add to these agendas, please advise.

Elections

We need to start developing our recreational fishing policy & strategies, in particular for the NT & Qld elections now, as time will soon disappear.

The election calendar going forward is:

The Hon. Bob Baldwin
AFTA Independent Chair