Our Fishing Future is in Safe Hands

I write this month's article with a real sense of pride for the recreational fishing sector having just returned from Recfishwest's inaugural Young Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing Program held at the Abrolhos Islands.

If you are not familiar with the program its aim was to essentially equip a next generation of recreational fishing leaders with the knowledge, skills and networks to help maintain a sustainable and rewarding recreational fishery into the future.

The Abrolhos Islands were chosen as the venue for the program as it is arguably the most iconic fishing destination in Western Australia, providing the perfect backdrop for a combination of theory and hands-on activities.

After witnessing first hand the development of the 14 young and passionate recreational fishers that participated in the course I can confidently say that the future of recreational fishing is in safe hands.

Initiative.

This initiative was a Recfishwest vision, but was only made a reality thanks to funding by the Australian Government Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme and support from the Department of Fisheries. The national and state governments should be applauded for their support of recreational fishing in funding this program.

The way in which we manage our fisheries is constantly evolving and there is an ever increasing shift in the way we manage our recreational fisheries. It is essential that we have well trained younger people that voice their opinions on how we manage our fisheries and offer innovative solutions to management problems. In this future leader's group I honestly believe we now have this.

Being part of a team responsible for the development of the program, I was thrilled to witness how much the participants were able to get out of the 5 day course. The magnitude of information the young future leaders were able to assimilate on the daunting subject matter of fisheries management and leadership was exceptional.

The program provided participants an intensive introduction on the basic principles of fisheries management as well as an insight into the views of the recreational, commercial and conservation sectors. In designing the program, Recfishwest believed it to be important that the next generation of leaders have an understanding of, and respect for others who share the fisheries resource.

Course program.

The course program also contained lectures on leadership, consultative frameworks and government process, lobbying, fisheries compliance and research. The program was jam packed with information and was a lot to absorb in only five days, however, feedback from participants indicated they wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I got a sense a number of the participants were initially overwhelmed with the avalanche of information they received on the subject of fisheries management. It can be a difficult subject to get your head around at times and even though I work in this industry, I can admit to finding it difficult at times. Despite this information overload, it was evident that the group came away with a wider understanding after listening to some of the conversations and debate around the diner table at night.

The program was fortunate to have the services of Ian Cartwright to facilitate the course. Ian has many years experience of 'hands on' fisheries management in Australia and overseas and provided valuable advice to the group. Ian was fantastic at pitching a number of complex problems of fisheries management to the group and facilitating discussion.

One of the highlights of the presentations was an interesting case study on the Kununurra Fishway proposal by passionate local recreational fisher, Dick Pasfield. The presentation focused on how the young future leaders can make a difference and achieve positive outcomes by developing community and political support. In speaking to a number of the participants after this talk I know it motivated them to pursue issues they are passionate about when they return to the real world.

The course involved the 14 participants being split into three groups and having the task to work together to prepare a submission on Fisheries Management Paper 225 - Managing the Recreational Catch of Demersal Scalefish on the West Coast. The groups were also required to provide a presentation on the final evening on their views of the paper and how they believe the west coast recreational demersal scalefish fishery should be managed.

The frenetic day time schedule meant the groups were often working till 11pm at night on their case studies. That is dedication!!!!!

I cannot praise enough the commitment shown by both the participants and the mentors over the 5 days. All the mentors donated a long weekend of their time away from their families to be a part of this and a number of participants took leave from their day-day jobs and studies.

The high quality of the group's presentations and submissions demonstrated a considered understanding of the challenges facing the recreational fishing sector as well as a number of innovative solutions. It is these new ideas and "why not" attitude that the recreational sector needs. I am confident this group will go on to be valuable advocates for the industry for many years. All were enthusiastic to provide comment on the follow-up paper to FMP 225 and I am confident they will do a very good job.

And some fishing...

A recreational fishing leadership course at the Abrolhos Islands would not have been right without the opportunity to have a fish. Many of the participants tried their luck from shore at the conclusion of a long day of presentations. Squid were a popular target from the jetties and were more than welcomed at the dinner table.

Also each of the groups had a morning aboard the charter vessel 'Reel Affair' and got stuck into a few fish including pink snapper, dhufish, coral trout and red throat emperor. Although the day out on the charter boat was a great chance to go fishing, it was integrated into the program as a learning exercise. It provided the participants and opportunity to experience some of the challenges the charter sector faces and some of the difficulties in managing demersal scalefish. A pertinent issue many of the participants experienced first hand was the current protection of baldchin groper at the Abrolhos Islands and the barotrauma issues associated in a multi-species fisheries.

The Young Future Leaders also had a morning aboard the fisheries compliance vessel the PV McLaughlan and experienced first hand compliance and research at the Abrolhos Islands. Activities included observing fish populations inside and outside the Reef Observation Areas using baited underwater video, compliance on commercial rock lobster pots, visiting a pearl farm lease and extracting otiliths (ear bones used to determine the age of fish) from fish samples.

The Department of Fisheries should be applauded for their support of this program and it could not have been such a success without their collaborative support. The Department of Fisheries Saville-Kent facility at Rat Island was the perfect venue for the program and the fisheries compliance vessel the PV McLaughlan was an integral component of the course.

I must particularly thank the efforts of Regional Fisheries Manager, Greg Finlay, and Compliance Manager for the Mid West, David Griffths, for ensuring that everything ran seamlessly whilst over at the Islands. They both were exceptional at making sure everyone was accommodated and must be commended for there exploits in the kitchen, feeding nearly 30 hungry mouths for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Of the 35 applications for this inaugural event, the 14 young recreational fishers that were selected proved to be of the highest standard and all demonstrated the potential to become future leaders in the recreational fishing sector. The high demand and success of the first course has Recfishwest enthused to run the program again in the near future for another fresh band of young and passionate recreational fishers from throughout Western Australia.

I have great expectations for this group and I look forward to watching their development as advocates for the recreational fishing sector. Remember these names in the future.

Kane Moyle
Policy Officer
Recfishwest

2008 Recfishwest Young Future Leaders

Pete Berlinski
Danny Dyson
Christopher Giles
Matthew Gillett
Lisa Hill
Greg Huebner
Chris Jones
Frank Nicol
Justin Nowrojee
Michael Sawyer
Andrew Shuy
Peter Van Schoubroeck
Mary Waldron
Paul Willis

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Other details about the Future Young Leaders program.

Recfishwest launches Young Future Leaders program in Western Australia

Recfishwest Media Statement Young Future Leaders on their way

Western Australia's Recreational Fishing Future in Safe Hands

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Headings and links have been added to this website version of the article printed in the "Hotbite" magazine.

These articles are written some weeks before the first day of the month of publication.

Posting on the RFW website is deliberately delayed until the following month's publication is available in newsagents.

The extra links added will give some other information.



This page last updated on 19 May 2008.