Media Release
Recfishwest launches Young Future Leaders program in Western Australia

Recfishwest today (7 November 2007) announced the launch of a Young Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing Program to be run at the Abrolhos Islands in March 2008.

"One of the key challenges for recreational groups such as Recfishwest is to ensure that younger people are able to make a contribution to ensuring that fishing quality in Western Australia is maintained." declared Executive Director of Recfishwest, Frank Prokop.

The 'Western Australian Young Future Leaders in Recreational Fishing' project will bring together at the Abrolhos Islands, recreational fishers who are aged under 35 who want to make a real difference. The selected participants will be educated and mentored by a group of recognised leaders in recreational fishing advocacy and management. This project will help to ensure that there is a trained group of people able to assist in the future management and leadership of recreational fishing. It complements a national program which was recently run in Darwin.

Recfishwest praised the support and cooperation which it has received from the Commonwealth government who provided the funds, the State government who provided the facility, the Department of Fisheries who had made available a research vessel and staff time and the general recreational fishing community for their support for the project.

"Recfishwest is committed to ensuring that there are more young people involved in responsible recreational fisheries management. One important way to ensure this is to take the participants to a beautiful location such as the Abrolhos Islands where they can see some of the issues first hand and create new solutions to management problems." Mr Prokop said.

Deputy Chairman of Recfishwest Craig Leatt-Hayter said, "This course will provide the opportunity to spend time on a fisheries research vessel, to see how compliance operates and to spend time on a charter boat. While there will be time to wet a line, this course is about selecting the best 15 young future leaders from throughout the state. The course will provide a platform for young future leaders to have input into the future management of recreational fishing in Western Australia as individuals or through membership of community groups, advisory committees, recreational fishing lobby groups or Government departments."

Recfishwest will ensure that regional participants and young women are included as Western Australia moves towards greater responsibility for management decisions. There will be female mentors and support.

An application form is available on the Recfishwest web site at http://www.recfishwest.org.au/YFLExpressionOfInterest.pdf Applications close on December 31 and will be assessed by a panel.

Participants must be able to travel to Perth for the start of the course on Saturday 1 March 2008 to return to Perth late on Friday 7 March. The costs for the course, other than some travel costs to Perth and incidentals will be covered by the Commonwealth recreational fishing community grant.

"This is an extremely exciting opportunity which I urge all interested young people to get behind. You will meet other dedicated young people, have a mentor to help your future development and get a unique opportunity to visit the Abrolhos Islands as it prepares for the commercial rock lobster season." Frank Prokop concluded.

ENDS

Media Contacts

Frank Prokop, Executive Director - Recfishwest

ph. 9246 3366 or 0419 949 118

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Follow up Media statement about the program Western Australia's recreational fishing future in safe hands



This page prepared on 7 November 2007, last updated on 1 April 2008.