The RFA is the peak representative body for recreational anglers in NSW. We represent the interests of anglers in the management of the State’s recreational fisheries, promote sustainable fishing practices, encourage the participation of children, secure rights fishing access, encourage recreational anglers to become involved in the well-being of the fishery, promote consultation and communication between government and anglers and promote fishing safety. The RFA of NSW is a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation supported by recreational fishing clubs, associations and individual anglers.
Rock fishing safety
Check out our rock fishing safety video! You can order a free information kit for yourself, your fishing club or your school, including the DVD and multilingual pamphlets, simply by emailing us.
Latest News
April 2010
Recreational Fishing Inquiry begins
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW was pleased to see more than 1000 submissions were
received by the NSW Legislative Council’s Select Committee on Recreational Fishing.
The Inquiry was established on 24 November 2009 to inquire into and report on the benefits and
opportunities that improved recreational fisheries may represent for fishing licence holders in New
South Wales.
The Committee called for submissions from members of the public and interested organisations during
December 2009 to 19 March 2010. The submission period has now closed.
The Committee will hold public hearings from April to July 2010 in Sydney and several regional centres,
and the Committee’s final report is due on 25th Nov 2010.
For more information click here. To read the RFA's submission click here.
November 2009
Will we fish in the future?
Each year a Parliamentary Conference is held for politicians from around Australia to discuss issues of common interest. These are generally in the form of panel discussions and this year the conference was held in WA.
One of the Panels was “Will we fish in the future” and one of the speakers was Frank Prokop, chairman of Recfish Australia.
Frank's speech can be read at http://www.recfishwest.org.au/WillThereBeFishingInTheFuture.htm
6 November 2009
Lifejacket discussion paper
The NSW government has released a discussion paper on lifejackets...click here to download a copy.
You can provide feedback and comment on this paper through the NSW Maritime online submission form at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au. If you need clarification on any issue please contact Recreational Boating on (02) 9563 8736. Deadline for comments is 8 January 2010.
If unable to make use of the online feedback form, you can make a submission in writing to:
Policy and Projects Branch
Recreational Boating & Regional Services Division
NSW Maritime
Locked Bag 5100
CAMPERDOWN NSW 1450
Full details of current NSW boating safety regulations and other information can found at: www.maritime.nsw.gov.au and a range of relevant reports and statistics can be found at the National Marine Safety Committee’s website at www.nmsc.gov.au
A table of current lifejacket requirements and proposed changes is available online at
www.maritime.nsw.gov.au
6 October 2009
Recfish Australia Joins the Boating and Fishing Council of Australia
Recfish Australia has joined the Boating and Fishing Council of Australia (BCFA). The
decision was made at the Recfish 26th Annual General Meeting held recently in Melbourne. Recfish Australia is the peak national body for Australia’s more than 3 million recreational fishers and the decision to join an alliance of predominantly industry organisations will add a vital dimension to the council and ensure that the voice of recreational fishers is also considered.
Read more>>
26 September
Angler Access Forum & Workshop
The forum and workshop organised by the RFA and NSW CFA was attended by 55 participants from NSW and around Australia. It involved several presentations with presenters from overseas and interstate who spoke about many issues that are impacting recreational fishing, from the legal issues legislative frameworks around fishing rights, to the Marine Parks debate, and concluded in two good news stories about Paddys Corner on the Thredbo River, and the Tillegra Creek Dam proposed for the Hunter Valley.
The loss of fishing access is deemed to be the biggest threat facing our fishing communities and families, as we see more and more marine parks and ‘no fishing zones’ being created each year.
Read more>>
6 August 2009
Biodegradbale Fishing Line – Fish for the Future
Australia’s longest established sportfishing body, The Australian National Sportfishing
Assocoation, has begun testing the new range of biodegradeable fishing lines that are starting to appear on the market. Given the life span of traditional materials such as nylon, ANSA has
embraced the concept of biodegradable fishing lines as a way of limiting the impacts on the
environment. ANSA has recently tested the stated breaking strain of the “Bioline” brand and
has been provided with samples for its anglers to use. Future testing is also planned.
Read more >>
29 July 2009
Personal Flotation Devices
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW has been investigating the compliance issues associated
with renewing out of date inflatable personal floatation devices (PFD’s).
Read more>>
18-19 June 2009
Fishers for Fish Habitat Conference and Workshop
Ian Freeman and Gail Begbie, two of the 2009 RFA’s NSW Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing, attended the Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum in June 09 at Ballina. This is part of RFA’s ongoing Trust Funded people development program assisting the 2009 Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing participants to seek out and get involved in recreational fishing conferences, meetings and fisheries matters around our state.
Read more>>
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.
Read more>>
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”.
Read more>>
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.
Read more>>
Click to go to...
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National RecFishing Code of Practice |
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.
Read more>>
Subscribe to NSW RecFisher newsletter
The RFA of NSW has launched an electronic newsletter, NSW RecFisher. Subscription is free and the information in the newsletter can be freely re-distributed by non-profit angling clubs and anglers. Click here to subscribe.
Read the September edition here.
| Member organisations of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW | |||
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Australian National Sportsfishing Association (NSW Branch) |
Fishing Clubs Association of NSW |
NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers |
NSW Underwater Skindiving and Fisherman's Association |
