Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW

The RFA is the peak representative body for recreational anglers in NSW. The aims of the RFA are to represent the interests of the recreational anglers of NSW and to gain equitable representation in the management of the State’s recreational fisheries, promote sustainable fishing practices, encourage the participation of children in recreational fishing, secure the rights of recreational anglers to fishing access, encourage recreational anglers to become involved in the well-being of the fishery, promote consultation and communication between government bodies and anglers and to promote fishing safety. The RFA of NSW is a not-for-profit organisation operated by volunteers and supported by recreational fishing clubs, associations and individual anglers.

Latest news

21 May 2009
Gaden Hatchery Agreement Implementation Committee gets underway
The first meeting of the recently formed Gaden Trout Hatchery Agreement Implementation Committee was held on 15 May at Gaden Trout Hatchery, Jindabyne. The Committee is charged with overseeing the first stage of the agreement between anglers and the NSW government that money from the Recreational Freshwater Fishing Trust Fund be used to support operating costs at the hatchery.
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19 March 2009
Response to ACORF on The Torn Blue Fringe
Professor Bob Kearney, Emeritus Professor Fisheries at the Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, was commissioned by the NSW Minister for Fisheries' Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing to review the Naptional Parks Association document The Torn Blue Fringe. Professor Kearney's report has now been made public by the Advisory Council.

Click here to read Professor Kearney's report>>

13 March 2009
Anglers defend credentials of marine scientist
NSW anglers have defended the credentials and professionalism of Professor Bob Kearney,
the marine scientist appointed to review the National Parks Association’s pro-marine parks
‘Torn Blue Fringe’ document released in December 2008.

The recreational fishers of New South Wales, using their licence funds, sought out the
services of an expert in fisheries and environmental sciences, to critique the NPA's
document. One of the two stated objectives of that document was to critique commercial
and recreational fisheries management in NSW. The other objective was to ‘document the
state of marine conservation in NSW’, stated the Chairman of the Recreational Fishing
Alliance of NSW, Mr Malcolm Poole.

Malcolm Poole goes on to say, “Professor Bob Kearney's credentials are unquestionable, he
has two doctorates in marine science, his professional positions include being the Director of
Research at NSW Fisheries for nine years, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Head
of the School of Resource Environmental and Heritage Sciences at the University of
Canberra and Chairman of the Board of the WorldFish Center. He has also been awarded
the Order of Australia for services to Australian and international fisheries research and
management”.

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27 February 2009
Future of NSW recreational fishing in safe hands
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW has proclaimed the overwhelming success of the NSW Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing workshop held in February 2009 at Coffs Harbour.

RFA President Malcolm Poole was overwhelmed, by the fifteen participants that attended the workshop. “Their passion and desire to face the challenges ahead to improve recreational fishing in New South Wales in the future was above all expectations. Recreational Fishing is a recreation or sport, enjoyed by in excess of a million fishers every year, however its overall profile is slipping down the families activities list”.

The participants received an intensive introduction into the basic principles of fisheries management,introduced to a range of stakeholder views and perspectives from commercial fishing, state government agencies, fishing trades, and environmental groups, along with covering a number of key NSW Recreational Trust Funded projects in both salt and freshwater. “It is extremely important for future recreational fisheries leaders to have an understanding of what is happening within fisheries management, and respect for others who share the fisheries resource.” Mr Poole said.

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National RecFishing Code of Practice
The RecFishing Code of Practice was developed by the national recreational angling body Recfish for all fishing clubs and representative organisations to adopt as their own
or to form the basis of their own codes.

Click here to view

7 December 2008
New Marine Parks threaten average Australians
“The Sydney Marine Park proposed by the National Parks Association (NPA), is a typical example of a minority group, holding the silent majority to ransom,” said Malcolm Poole of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). “The attitude of such groups these days is to shut everyone out, lock it up and throw away the key,” he said.

If the coastal area from Avoca to Wollongong and Sydney Harbour is declared a Marine Park with zones that ban fishing, then many Sydney-siders who love spending a day on the water with their kids catching a few fish will be greatly disadvantaged. Those people who wish to go fishing will have to travel further a field, leading to more risk with their families safety, not to mention the added green-house impacts. This is also relevant to the other areas the NPA has identified along the NSW coast.