snapper15.4kg

The only way for everyone to be heard is through paid membership of RecFishSA. I have been involved in this discussion for more than ten years on three major forums and it is getting tiring. Considering swapping the boat for a set of lawn bowls.

Must be a bottom up democratic process. Any proposal needs to be put out to the fishing public for vote because both major state parties have expressed they want evidence of majority support. Neither will risk election chances by mooting a RFL themselves based on the minority of avid fishos interested in fisheries management.

A change of government only means a change of minister, all the infrastructure remains, PIRSA, RecFishSA etc.

togetherness seems to be the key so far...we're all different...but we need to be together like RJ5023 said....AS ONE... whose not goin to listen to nearly 300,000 smelly fishos  ....300,000 people with a good agenda together...everyone will listen...let me remind you all...THEY work for us....we must not be afraid or doubtful...we must put a side our differences and unite...reminds me of a 5 a side indoor soccer team I used to play for...RECFISH REVOLUTION UNITED    

The Govt has to face the voters. At that time, all bets are off...

One of the major problems we face here in SA is that the government has created a "peak body" to "look after the interests" of rec fishers and they refuse to deal with anyone else. I am not against a licence in principle but it cannot be a first step, there are a lot of other issues to deal with first.

Tacklebags is right. Money is not a silver bullet and it cannot solve every problem that confronts the SA fishery.
Without it however, we will continue on just as we always have  - and the current situation is not a good recommendation for doing that.
 
How to make it happen? Lot of different opinion from lots of experts, but I think that the rec sector needs to get together in whatever rag-tag form can be achieved quickly and in the short term, and put a pre-election question to each of the political parties. That question would be coming from just one source - the entire recreational fishing community of SA. Not a matrix of questions that inevitable leaves wriggle room for Politicians, just one question in two parts.
 
Perhaps something like:-
 
"If elected, will your Party provide funding for the Recreational Fishing sector in SA  - such that we will be able to work effectively with all other stakeholders in order to maximise the financial and social returns that recreational fishing provides to this State.
 
We have two equally preferred options for this funding (in no particular order):-
 
1. A Recreational Fishing Licence designed and agreed in partnership between the Recreational Fishing Sector and the Government and administered by a Committee in which Recreational Fishing Representatives are guaranteed a majority.
2. Recurrent funding of $5 million per annum indexed to CPI, and administered by a Committee in which Recreational Fishing Representatives are guaranteed a majority.
 
Which of these (or any equivalent proposal) are you able to commit to?
 
On behalf of 237,000 Recreational Fishers of SA.
 
- or something like that.
 
I really believe (based on random arse-pluck and watching what's going on elsewhere) that this coming election is likely to be the most competitive that we've had in SA for many decades, and that all Parties will need to be mindful of keeping every single vote. It's not likely that the SA voting population will put rec fishing very high on their priority list (power, healthcare, employment etc etc) - but if there is very little to choose between the policies of each Party and the candidates they put forward, lower priorities will come into play when we come to decide who to vote for - priorities such as funding for recreational fishing. I think that those votes could be enough to decide who wins a Seat in the coming election.
 
If you want funding for recreational fishing in SA, I think that there has never been a better time to ask for it.
- But we'd need to pull our digits out, there's a lot to be done.
 
Coupla bob.

Gov administration and compliance costs, if applicable committee costs for facilitation of meetings, hours worked by members all need to be deducted, payments to third parties etc. We also have an aging population with an average age higher than most other states which needs considering. If a large demographic fall into the retired/youth sectors then that impacts bottom line against costs.

There is much to consider. Reading interstate in NSW I am of the understanding their rec licence isn't considered a true licence such as a drivers licence or commercial fishing licence and doesn't hold the same intrinsic rights in law.
 
I for one am not going to be critical of rec fishers reactions to an rfl or management issues over the last year or more.
 
We all know raw advocacy is rarely 100% accurate or diplomatic but can one then also complain about apathy? Imho take the pertinent points and move on with your learning.

Or it all gets sucked up paying wages at RecFishSA.

I understand and fully support the licence, ONLY IF the funds go straight back into the fishing sector eg; education and development, officers, better boat ramps, more artificial reefs etc with-in a 12 - 24 month period.
 
The only fear is that we pay all this cash for it to sit in an account gathering interest and nothing coming back eg the boat levy.

I've always been skeptical about a fishing licence.
to be honest i've been waiting to see when it'll come in.
 
Heres a few questions i'll raise and my opinion.
 
The ratio between fisheries officers to fishers is pathetic.
How would spending money on a fishing licence, help the officers monitor check on people who have one?
 
how many fisheries offices are there in SA right now?
if there are 300,000 fishers and say 100 fisheries officers thats 1:3000. They are ridiculous odds.
Its 3 times what Leicester city were paying to win the EPL last year.......
 
In order to have a presence in the field, they'd have to employ atleast another 500 officers. and STILL you will never cover the entire state.
 
In all my years at the boat ramp, i've never seen a fishing charter checked.
Who says they haven't been doing the right thing just because they have a licence?
 
In 15 years of driving, I've been pulled over a few times because i was being an idiot. Sure they check your licence then.
But i'm sure there are people who have never been pulled over because they are doing the right thing. Who checks their licence?
 
In 10 years of owning a boat, 3 times i've had my boat / catch checked and once have had my boat approached by fisheries on the water.
NOT ONCE did any of them ask for my boat licence.
 
I've been saying for years its not ONLY the rec's that are to blame.
Just because you own a boat, it doesn't mean you catch bag limits of fish every time you go out.
the pro's RAPE everything.
it's happened to the blueys a few years ago, it's happened to the garfish, it's happened to the snapper and it'll keep happening as that is their job. they are like the miners of the ocean. if there is no more gold in this spot, they'll dig somewhere else...
 
3 years ago a mate of mine caught a decent amount or snapper off the shipping channel.
since then, i have caught maybe 3 snapper, the largest being 42cm and not in the area we were in.
the difference between a rec and a pro is we TRY to catch snapper, the pros WILL catch snapper, its just a matter of how many.
 
In the Gulf of SV, it's all pretty flat, the only way to house more fish is to build it.
 
There are 2 tyre reefs, the Stanvac blocks, Norma, a few other barges and old ships. These are all 'man made reefs'.
With out these, we wouldnt have any structure locally.
I think its time for the government to pull there finger out and make some more artificial reefs rather than pick on the rec's and coincide with the pro's all the time.
 
There are too many people putting themselves at risk trying to build they're own to try get away from the 'crowd'.
Build multiple reefs and people can choose where to go and ultimately give the fish a 'home'.
 
The saying goes BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME.
 
Same goes for the fish.
 
Thats my thoughts anyway 
 
Savage

I have "liked" your post and enjoy your point of view but
 
I guess this is aimed at me? I have already stated that I am NOT against a RFL and attempted to supply something I found to this forums members. 
I don't know if I will bother again

I was a long term supporter of a RFL.
 
I think for SA its a good thing for freshwater and I recognise the improvements to access and stocking being made there.
 
For the salt recs need greater recognition in management arrangements to win my support. This imho comes by the will of the government not by licence revenue or any other revenue.
 
Cheers
 
Tackles

As per usual RJ, you speak truth and apply commonsense. The silent majority agree with you bud 👍

This was presented to the Committee more than 6 months ago (July 2016), and hasn't been mentioned since (to my knowledge). It was not a formal submission by the MFA, although one presenter was/is a Board member of the MFA. There is no indication that this submission was or is supported as official policy by the Commercial sector as a whole.
 
Everyone will take what they want to see from this submission, but for mine it was a group of Commercial fishers complaining about the lack of support for their sector from PIRSA and the Govt. - which is exactly the same complaint the recreational sector has put forward for decades.
 
In addition, there has been loud and continuous attack of the Commercial sector by some rec's for more than a year, and this seems to have had the result of causing some in the Commercial sector to lash out in response. The submission proposes to implement many controls on rec fishers that are already in effect for the Commercials, and asks that the recreational sector pay for a licence. In the past 6 months, there has been no indication that anyone in Fisheries management in SA has taken any of it to heart, much less any attempt to actually implement it.
 
Overall it's a storm in a teacup, but the overall environment of the fishery as a shared resource in SA is repeatedly damaged and the divide between sectors is increased every time a submission is made or video such as that shown in the original post is presented to the public.
 
Bottom line is that the Commercial sector seems to be every bit as fed up with PIRSA and Govt as the recreational sector. It does no good for anyone if the sectors keep chucking bricks at each other - the only result is that it takes the focus away from PIRSA and the Govt. and wastes a whole lot of time and energy.
 
There can probably never be a close relationship between the Commercial and Recreational sectors because we are all competing for the same resource, but (IMO) there is no reason why a professional level of interaction can't be established between the sectors in order to achieve common goals. As this submission very clearly shows, one of those common goals (and probably the most important) is a change in the manner in which the fishery in SA is managed by PIRSA/SARDI and the Government. But before any progress can be achieved on that front, I believe that the recreational sector needs to overcome our own divisions so that we are able to present a united front with one agreed position - on any subject.
 
There is no way that this situation (both the submission and the video) should be accepted as a reason not to implement a RFL in SA  - despite the fact that some people (probably a minority?) have strong opposition to the RFL and will attempt to use it for that purpose. 
 
My 2 bob. Thank you.

My opinion, a rfl for SA is not going to be the "Magic Bullet" that it has been in other states, it will not get rid of the problems we have here. We have a minister for everything including rec fishing who treats us with contempt, PIRSA who have a vested interest in commercial fishing and will only listen to minorities who are against rec fishing. Then we have a "Peak Body" supposedly representing us that refuses to deal with any one else and seems to only conduct business on Face Book. These issues need to be addressed BEFORE introducing a rec licence. If they are I would probably support it then. I have made use of many of the improvements made over the border in Vic.

ps....Mods please don't shut any of this down cos without this magic forum of yours/ours how are we to educate ourselves and each other with regards to moving forward and saving our fisheries...I read somewhere the greatest gift you can give to another fisherman is....a fish...peace everyone

Howdy Poppa Snake...no shit fight here brother...im not against you or BarnyB either....this is a learning process for me and a few other people I rekn...I think everyones heart is in the right place...but none of us know how to improve this terrible situation we have...fishn obviously means a lot to all of us on here...that's why we all care about this "argument"...on our own none of us can do much...together as a team on the other hand...we can change this terrible situation...you know the old saying...300,000 fishos together are smarter and more powerful than any force on the planet  ...essentially we all want more fish in the water for all of us...less or no pro fisherman taking out too many fish out of  our fisheries...rules and regulations that make a difference for the future and are actually upheld...less bureaucratic BS and more action to protect our fisheries and our rec fishn futures....you get the picture....on our own individually...nothing will change...together with a recfish license we have an army and approx. $6 000 000 bucks per year to do something properly for the future of our fisheries...its in our hands and only we can make a difference....we have to be united somehow and I don't see any other way except by paying our union/club/license fee and standing together as one...peace brother and may the fish be with you  

whilst i respect your opinions and your right to air them I hardly think "Bahahaha, thats the dumbest thing I've watched all day." is putting it sweetly
 
As for other licenses plenty drive without one & unregistered, I am in a trade industry and there are plenty of "tradies" doing cash jobs with no invoice, no GST and no COC so that is working. I cannot see every rec fisher paying for a RFL and those that get caught will get numerous warning like they do now for undersize crab brigade.
 
There was, as at Jan 2016 $6 mill from the boat levy supposed to be spent to upgrade facilities sitting doing nothing that could be used for the things you say.
 
I am NOT totally against the RFL but worried what they want to do with info gathered
 
ps - Mods if this turns into a shit fight please delete whole post and I will end my membership as I am only supplying info for members to ponder

The rec fishing licence is being pushed by the pro fishers to parliament.. Anyone think they are doing it for our good?

sorry can only supply the Hansard copy and Les does not wear a tin foil hat
http://www.recfishcentral.com/web-content/research/msf_2016_bayly.pdf

http://www.recfishcentral.com/web-content/pages/video.html

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/filleting_salmon.htm   ????