Recreational Fishing Regulations

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Minister, can you inform the house how the educational awareness campaign to inform recreational fishers of the new regulations will be conducted?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:33): I thank the member for Giles for the question and acknowledge his interest in rec fishing. He represents a wonderful electorate, with some fantastic snapper and other fish in his area. During the past almost a year, we have been out consulting with many, many South Australians about the future of fishing in South Australia.

I want to firstly thank the 800 people who turned up to the meetings that we held around South Australia to have discussions and hear people's input about how we can continue on in a sustainable way with our fisheries. To all those people who gave their views, they were listened to. I also want to thank the 900 people who made submissions, including the 1,550 people who fed into the RecFish SA submission. We did get to hear from a lot of people from right around the state and have come up with some decisions that we think are the fairest way forward in terms of looking after the recreational aspect of fishing, the commercial aspect of fishing and the ecological aspect of fishing. It is a real balancing act, and there were a lot of compromises made by all sides along the way.

These changes will come into effect on 1 December, so we have a month now to get the message across to people about what these new rules mean and what people will be allowed to do. Some of the ways we will communicate to the recreational fishers are:

obviously through the PIRSA website, which includes downloadable flyers;

Fishcare volunteers, who do a tremendous job right around our state, and I would like to congratulate them on the great work they do. They will help distribute information and inform fishers about the changes at events and during regular patrols over coming weeks;

posters will be provided to tackle shops across the state to raise awareness about incoming changes;

a digital advertising campaign will commence next week;

the Fishwatch call centre has information on the changes and will direct people to the PIRSA website for details;

through social media, with Twitter and Facebook accounts of PIRSA and other government agencies helping to spread the message;

commercial fishing associations, RecFish SA and other key stakeholders will be notified directly;

e-newsletters will be issued, including PIRSA's FISHFACTS e-newsletter, which goes to thousands of recreational fishers; and

all signage across the state will be updated at popular fishing spots, jetties and boat ramps.

In terms of informing members of parliament, we have some briefings—one this afternoon, I understand, and one again tomorrow—so that people can ask questions directly of those officers who have been out there doing all the work in compiling these changes so that people have the facts, and our office is only too willing to help people.

The member for Goyder came over and had a chat with me this morning. I thank him for asking those questions, and we hope we will get him a briefing that will inform him. He has a tremendous electorate that looks after not just the residents of Yorke Peninsula but also so many visitors to his wonderful area. I thank those members who came along to—

Mr Marshall: What is this?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It's called government. You want to stay over there and whinge and complain.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We get in and we look after the fishers of South Australia and the fish stocks of South Australia while you just—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Mate, you're all rod and no reel.

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton.

An honourable member: He likes to fish.