QUEENSLAND

Graeme Wilson & Tony Perrett

AFTA is looking forward to getting into the business end of recreational fishing policies with recently elected Minister Tony Perrett.

AFTA has requested a meeting with our board, and although no formal LNP election policy documents were released, Tony Perrott clearly stated at the AFTA Trade Show that the gill net program, as committed, would not be reversed. Minster Perrett also emphasized that all decisions, like those concerning Spanish Mackerel, would be grounded in peer-reviewed science.

AFTA look forward to building a better future for recreational fishers in QLD in partnership with the Qld Government.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Over the next month, AFTA will have discussions with new Recreational Fishing Minister Gerard Maley about proposed timeframes for the buyback of the 14 commercial gillnets as committed to before the election.

Golden Snapper Stock Assessment

The NT Golden Snapper Stock Assessment report has been released, revealing sustainability issues with Golden Snapper in the Greater Darwin Region.

The report highlights that Golden Snapper around Darwin remains overfished – around one-fifth of their original population – with fishing mortality rates estimated to be more than double the sustainable rate.

The most recent scientific data shows that Golden Snapper stocks in the Greater Darwin Region are classified as Depleting. A robust recovery plan must be developed to coordinate management efforts, restore stocks to sustainable levels, and prevent further declines of this highly vulnerable species to combat this.

The current level of fishing mortality on Golden Snapper will prevent stocks from recovering in the Greater Darwin region. Golden Snapper is an indicator species for similar inshore reef fish species that are slow-growing and long‐lived in the NT. A recovery plan is required to reduce fishing mortality and rebuild stocks to sustainable levels within an acceptable timeframe.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Applications are now open for funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust for projects that enhance and promote recreational fishing across NSW.

$2 million in funding is available in this round for the small infrastructure grants program, which is designed to make it easy to apply for projects like fishing platforms, fish cleaning tables, kayak launching platforms, fishing access tracks and more.

As well as small infrastructure, funding is also available to promote participation in the sport and the mental health and well-being benefits of fishing, such as for free fishing events, fishing workshops, come and try fishing days, fishing for therapy initiatives, and the development of educational material to promote sustainable and responsible fishing practices.

Funding guidelines and the new online application form are available here. Applications close on 18th December 2024.

AFTA will be looking to apply for funding to support “Phase 6” of the very successful  “Let’s Go Fishing” school-based program run by the Marine Teachers Association. We will also be exploring funding options to support product stewardship in recycling used fishing lines.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

L to R: Ben Patrick, Halco Tackle, Libby Mettam, WA Leader of the Opposition, AFTA Ambassadors, Brian Marshall & Ash Ramm with AFTA Chair, Bob Baldwin

From the 25th to the 28th of November, I, along with AFTA WA Ambassadors Tim Farnell (Red Mullet), Ash Ramm (Tackleworld Miami), Brian Marshall (Compleat Angler Nedlands), Ben Patrick (Halco), will be engaging with all political parties to advocate for a recreational fishing agenda. We aim to restore recreational fishing rights and ensure sustainability for AFTA Member shops. Additionally, I will visit AFTA shops to understand their concerns firsthand.

We will collaborate closely with our members and Recfishwest to ensure that our industry’s voice is both heard and taken seriously by the Government and opposition. We will leave no assumptions unchallenged.

Our united goal is clear: Access for everyone and a sustainable industry model guided by science rather than politics. It’s challenging to trust “political” scientifically-based outcomes when commercial fishers are allowed to operate during spawning periods. Yet, recreational anglers face unjustified bans or when the Government stays silent on offshore wind farms’ local impacts—especially when the SA government rejected a wind farm proposal just a year ago due to potential fisheries damage.

Recently, Recfishwest played a pivotal role in addressing the impacts of the WA Government’s South Coast Marine Parks plan. In collaboration with the local fishing community, Recfishwest’s submission to the Government incorporated fisher feedback and included extensive recommendations to reconsider many of the proposed no-fishing zones. Ultimately, 23 out of their 28 key recommendations were adopted in the final plans.

Click here for South Coast Marine Parks Plan Outcomes. As Dr Andrew Rowland stated: “While this result isn’t perfect, it’s clearly a better outcome than what we were facing in February 2024.”

VICTORIA

(L to R) Steve Threlfall, Hon. Bob Baldwin, Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Billy Parsons, Ben Scales.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos has been very active this month, announcing a $15 million investment to triple the size of the Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery near Shepparton. Work is underway to increase the number of production ponds from 33 to more than 100 – so the hatchery can produce up to 6 million Murray cod and golden perch each year for stocking into Victorian waters. The facility will be critical in Victoria, stocking 10 million fish annually – more than every Australian state and territory combined.

This was then followed by the announcement of the $4.4m new single-lane boat ramp, a carpark, amenity block and a floating pontoon to help launch and retrieve vessels at Tarago. This project will help open fishing access to the West Gippsland reservoir.

However, for many thousands of freshwater recreational fishers, it was the action of Minister Steve Dimopoulos, who announced the planned introduction of the Herpes Virus to help eradicate Carp from our waterways, that was the most critical.

By way of background and personal involvement, it was during my tenure as the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, with responsibility for our nation’s water, including the Murray-Darling Basin, where I visited Shepparton. Through the guidance and personal perspective of Steve Threlfall (Trelly) Tackle World Shepparton, I gained a true insight into the issue of Carp and their negative environmental impact.

Following this, on the 15th March 2016, I gave a speech on Biological Control Amendment Bill 2016 and in part I said:

“One of the areas I am most passionate about in relation to this bill is the proposal to start the process for release of the cyprinid herpesvirus 3 for the control of common Carp known as the European Carp, Cyprinus carpio. I announced this initial program at the Australian Fishing Tackle Association gala dinner on the Gold Coast on 27th July (2015) last year. All of those assembled from the fishing industry were extremely excited, because it is an opportunity to get rid of the carp biomass which fills our inland waterways, particularly through the Murray-Darling Basin. At that time I was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and had responsibility for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Everyone, from fishers to farmers to environmentalists – the community as a whole – supports this program. This virus is specific to carp – Carp only. It does not transmit to our native species. The CSIRO and others have been doing exhaustive testing. It does not transmit to our native birds or mammals; it is Carp specific. It gives us the opportunity to remove 80 to 90 per cent of the carp biomass from our rivers.”

Following this in May 2016 Barnaby Joyce announced “Carpageddon” with a government commitment of $15m towards the National Carp Control Plan.

It is encouraging that action will finally commence in May 2026, albeit only in Victoria at present; however, it is somewhat disappointing that it has taken well over a decade to initiate this process, and we are still waiting for a commitment to carp eradication from the other states.

Click to read the latest news on the Carp Biological Control Program.

SHARK DEPREDATION

This is a reminder that AFTA encourages all recreational fishers affected by shark depredation to contact Dr Jonathon Mitchell at jonathan.mitchell@daf.qld.gov.au.

This 2.5-year project is well underway and will include a series of stakeholder workshops in regional centres across Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and New South Wales — the primary states and territories where shark depredation has been identified as a prevalent issue.

For a deeper understanding of the science behind shark depredation, I suggest reading the report by Dr. Jonathan D. Mitchell from the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, titled “Discussion Paper for the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation National Workshop on Shark Interactions in Australian Fisheries.” Your input is needed, please.

ELECTIONS:

Over the next 12 months, there will be elections in:

Western Australia

March 8th 2025

Issues to be raised:

• Demersal Bans
• Increase in marine park areas.
• The banning of ALL wire traces from shore between Mandurah and Two Rocks.
• State government support for Offshore Windfarms
• Shark Depredation

Federal

May 2025

Issues to be raised:

• Offshore Windfarms
• Shark Depredation
• 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.

Conclusion

It is often and well said, ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’!! AFTA will never be backward in asking for what we want to make our industry positive and sustainable

In conclusion, with government changes and two elections on the horizon, our industry will have an interesting year ahead.

I look forward to working with and for you in the year ahead.

Tight Lines & Full Tills,

Cheers

Bob