Fisheries Co-Management
Recreational fishers should have a meaningful role in managing the fisheries they depend on—not simply be consulted after government has already developed its preferred position. Co-management brings government, recreational fishers, Aboriginal communities, scientists and other affected groups together to identify problems, agree on objectives, examine the evidence, develop management responses and review whether those measures are working.
It does not remove the Minister’s authority or weaken environmental safeguards. Done properly, it produces better-informed decisions, healthier fish stocks, fairer outcomes and greater community confidence in fisheries management.
The RFA NSW Position
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW believes the current system gives recreational fishers opportunities to comment, but very few opportunities to share responsibility for fisheries management.
Advisory councils, working groups and public consultation can be useful, but they are not genuine co-management when government still controls the agenda, information, participants, recommendations and final response.
RFA NSW supports a dedicated recreational fisheries co-management framework that would:
- establish an independent and properly funded recreational fishing peak body;
- create standing co-management committees for important species, fisheries and regions;
- involve recreational fishers from the beginning of policy and harvest-strategy development;
- give participants timely access to relevant data, research and modelling;
- require government to respond formally to recommendations and explain its decisions;
- develop consistent harvest strategies with clear objectives, triggers and review dates;
- consider habitat loss, water quality, development, illegal fishing and other pressures—not fishing rules alone;
- improve transparency and recreational fisher oversight of licence-fee expenditure;
- support fishing clubs, citizen science and other credible sources of community knowledge; and
- progressively share or delegate suitable management services while preserving government responsibility for legislation, enforcement and urgent sustainability action.
Co-management does not mean recreational fishers control public fisheries resources. It means government and properly represented stakeholders work as accountable partners, with clearly defined responsibilities and safeguards.
For the Minister, this would provide broader advice, earlier warning of emerging problems, shared ownership of difficult decisions and a more transparent decision-making record.
For fish stocks, it would provide better information, earlier action, consistent recovery measures, stronger community support and regular assessment of whether management is actually working.
The RFA’s central position is simple: NSW must move from participation by invitation to participation by design.
Recreational fishers should no longer be treated merely as people to be consulted. They should become informed, representative and accountable partners in the stewardship of NSW fisheries.
The documents linked below were prepared with assistance from AI tools. RFA NSW has used these tools to organise, compare and explain information drawn from our extensive submissions, correspondence, research and practical advocacy experience. AI has helped us examine a large body of material more efficiently, but it has not determined our position. The issues raised, evidence selected, conclusions reached and final responsibility for the published content remain with RFA NSW
How a dedicated NSW fisheries co-management policy would help the Minister and fish stocks