AFTA Chair’s Report – March 2025

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The result of the WA election on March 8th was predictable given the huge majority of seats the Labor government held. However, it was somewhat disappointing that the Labor Government did not release their policy for recreational fishing ahead of the election pre-polling that commenced on February 24th so rec fishers could make an informed decision.

AFTA is fiercely nonpartisan. AFTA congratulates the government on its win and welcomes the Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC as the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Fisheries, Forestry, Small Business, and Mid-West. We will continue to advocate for our policy manifesto in the best interest of recreational fishers in WA.

AFTA appreciated the policy offerings from all parties, particularly the National’s position on funding support for recreational fishing and the Liberal’s plan to reduce the number of licences to 1 and the licence fees down to $40. You can look at all policies on the Recfishwest site.

Click here for the Labor Government response to Recfishwest state election manifesto.

QUEENSLAND

AFTA participated in the Queensland Department of Primary Industries Forum – a 25-year blueprint for a better future, on February 26th 2025, at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane. AFTA appreciated having a seat at this policy-making table to put forward what we think will help sustainably grow our industry.

Attendees at the QLD DPI Forum

Meeting with Minister Tony Perrett and Director General Graeme Bolton gave AFTA the opportunity to reinforce our policy positions as we move forward.   As I stated previously, it’s crucial for recreational fishing to have a voice in these discussions. Check out the 25-year Summary Report. The full report will be published when available; however, you can follow the development here.

L to R: Graeme Bolton (Director General QLD DPI), Hon. Bob Baldwin and Minister Tony Perrett

Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC)

Immediate Past President of AFTA Col Tannahill Presenting at FRDC Circular Economy Workshop

Whilst in Brisbane, I took the opportunity to attend the Circular Advantage workshop hosted by the FRDC, where I had the privilege of seeing Col Tannahill, AFTA’s Immediate Past President and Shimano Managing Director, present – “The Circular Economy Through a Corporate Lens”, highlighting Shimano’s environmental initiatives, particularly in packaging.

New South Wales

AFTA is exceedingly disappointed by the announcement of a further three-year ban on Eastern Blue Groper effective from March 1st, 2025. The initial restrictions on Blue Grouper were imposed on recreational fishers following an illegal spearfishing incident last year.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development indicated that during the twelve-month duration of the ban, they engaged with the community, conducted comprehensive research, and assessed the stock of Blue Groper. The stock assessment concluded that the Eastern Blue Groper is in a sustainable position; however, there is a risk the species is being impacted by climate change and warming waters.

Following this decision, AFTA has been the subject of a Freedom of Information request on our Have Your Say submission on the Blue Groper Ban. A copy of which is below:

Sent: Friday, April 12th, 2024 2:27:53 PM
To: Sean Sloan <sean.sloan@dpi.nsw.gov.au>
Subject: Have your say on the recent Eastern Blue Groper rule changes

The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) acknowledge that the NSW government issued a 12-month ban on recreational line fishers taking Eastern Blue Groper (Achoerodus) on March 1st 2024, as a result of the very public illegal spearfishing of an Eastern Blue Groper in February 2024. However, AFTA disagrees with the ban.

Whilst AFTA fully supports the closure of any fishery when there is clear scientific evidence to show that this is the only way to sustain the fishery, AFTA does not believe this to be the case on this occasion.

AFTA support the existing spearfishing ban on Eastern Blue Groper introduced in 1969 and from commercial fishing since 1980. Indeed, AFTA would support more substantial penalties for those who knowingly take these fish, but the total ban and penalties should not have been expanded to include recreational line fishers.

The Minister should consider identifying the very specific localised areas where divers, both scuba and snorkel, regularly engage with the Eastern Blue Groper and provide a 100m buffer zone for non-capture in those areas only.

The location identification of these specific diver tourism areas can be sought through NSW Dive Shop, Dive Charter operators, and Dive clubs.

We appreciate the Minister’s efforts to undertake consultation over the next 12 months and review her decision.

Given that the Blue Groper fishery has now been assessed as sustainable, AFTA has significant concerns regarding this three-year ban extension decision based solely on its potential impact by climate change and warming waters. We question which sustainable fishery might be next to face closure to satisfy the demands of certain political elements in parliament. This decision was influenced more by political considerations than by the scientific evidence indicating the fishery’s sustainable status.

Anyone caught contravening the closure and taking Eastern Blue Groper in NSW by any method will face a $500 penalty infringement notice and/or maximum court-imposed fines of $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) for a first offence and $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second or subsequent offence. Please note: Any Eastern Blue Groper incidentally caught while line fishing must be released.

Victoria

Whilst in Melbourne, AFTA Directors Billy Parsons (JM Gillies), Ben Scales (Jarvis Walker), and I took the opportunity to introduce AFTA to the Victorian Opposition.

We discussed AFTA’s policy positions with Brad Battin, Opposition Leader & Shadow Minister for Small and Medium Business, Sam Groth, Deputy Leader & Shadow Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Bill Tilley, Shadow Assistant Minister for Boating & Fishing & David Hodgett, Shadow Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations.

L to R: Bill Tilley MP, Billy Parsons AFTA, David Hodgett MP, Hon. Bob Baldwin AFTA Chair, Brad Battin MP, Ben Scales AFTA & Sam Groth MP.

AFTA stressed that Victoria is the benchmark state for positive recreational fishing regulation and investment and that any policy change from the current situation may need to be carefully considered.

Ahead of the planned AFTA Board Meeting on April 2nd, AFTA will meet with Ms Luba Grigorovitch, Parliamentary Secretary for Outdoor Recreation (Recfishing), supporting the work of Minister Steve Dimopoulos.

AFTA welcomes all new appointees and looks forward to working with all in a non-partisan manner for the benefit of recreational fishing.

South Australia

AFTA welcomes the announced new regulations for managing Yellowtail Kingfish in South Australia, following an independent review by the Allocation Review Committee (ARC). PIRSA will ensure the commercial netting sector adheres to its 0.12% allocation of the kingfish biomass.

Kingfish migrate into SA annually to spawn, which is vital for catch-and-release fishing. Recent research shows these migrations extend across Australia’s eastern side, emphasising the need to limit commercial netting to preserve recreational fishing opportunities.

The social and economic value of Kingfish to the recreational fishing community played a significant role in the review, supporting regional tourism as anglers visit SA coastal towns. Concerns were raised about recent commercial catches exceeding historical trends, threatening gulf stocks crucial to recreational tourism.

The ARC recommended strict management of the commercial sector within its allocated limits to sustain the species and protect its value for both sectors. PIRSA will enforce compliance, reflecting the importance of balanced fisheries management.

AFTA congratulates RecFish SA for its work in advocating for the interests of recreational fishers and local communities.

Federal Election – Commonwealth Government

With the Federal election imminent, Prime Minister Albanese may announce it at any moment. The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) has expressed several concerns:

• The potential impact of six planned offshore wind farms on recreational fishing.
• Expansions of existing marine park exclusion zones, including recent changes in the Southeast Marine Park in Tasmania.
• Shark Depredation – Study already underway
• Biosecurity – importation of green prawns and white spot disease
• Actions to address microplastics in the ocean.
• Banning the importation of Crab Pots that don’t comply with Australia-wide state legislation.

The Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Chris Bowen, supports Labor’s initiative to advance six approved Offshore wind farm zones. In contrast, Liberal Leader Peter Dutton has declared that he would cancel the Hunter, Illawarra, Bunbury, and Southern Ocean Offshore Wind Zones, citing concerns that “the wind farms would harm the landscape and disrupt the tourism and fishing industries.”

This follows the South Australian government’s decision to reject the SA wind farm proposal due to its impact on fisheries.

Should the Coalition secure victory in this year’s election, only the Gippsland and Tasmania’s Bass Strait zones are expected to proceed.

Regarding Commonwealth Marine Parks, AFTA remains firmly opposed to any further expansions or exclusion zones. Recently, under the direction of the Minister for the Environment and Water, The Hon Tanya Plibersek, the new Southeast Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2025 was approved, which continues to restrict access for recreational fishers in parts of Tasmania. The Final Southeast Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2025 commenced on February 13th 2025.

Elections

Victoria

November 28th, 2026