FISHING SURVEY

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (17:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister for aquaculture and fisheries a question about the recent release of the PIRSA fishing survey.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: As we all know, fishing is a popular outdoor recreational activity.

The Hon. J.M. Gazzola: Hear, hear!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Indeed—I hear, ‘Hear, hear!’ I understand there are a few anglers in this chamber. I have to confess that I, on the other hand, had to retire early from recreational fishing after I snagged my eyelid on the first occasion I went fishing, and I have always had a healthy respect for the patience and discipline of those who do fish.

On a more serious note, the reasons anglers go fishing change over time, but in general we know that recreational fishing is a very social activity enjoyed with family and friends. Can the minister tell us more about the current fishing survey and why it is so important?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (17:14): I thank the honourable member for her question. A large proportion of Australia's population participates in recreational fishing. However, little information is known about what motivates fishers and whether they are satisfied with their fisheries management, how they access information about fishing or other social aspects of fishing.

PIRSA, Fisheries and Aquaculture, together with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), are conducting a statewide recreational fishing survey to help better understand the needs of rec fishers.

The survey examines the social aspects of fishing, such as the benefits that people experience from participating in fishing activities, and will be used to help inform fisheries management. The joint-research project will analyse results to determine potential differences between key South Australian regions.

The survey of recreational fishers provides important information to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture that will enable an assessment as to how successfully this department is meeting the requirements of the recreational fishing sector in South Australia and how improvements might be able to be made. I am advised that the results of the survey will be publicly available when the findings are complete.

By completing the survey and sharing their views on recreational fishing in South Australia, respondents are eligible to go into a prize draw. First prize is a choice of a one-day charter boat fishing trip for three or a $500 voucher at the fishing outlet of the winner's choice.

This recreational survey forms part of a larger national study being undertaken from 2010 to 2013, which aims to improve the monitoring of social aspects of fishing throughout the commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing sectors of Australia. It is called the Developing and Testing Social Objectives for Fishery Management Study. Don't you love these names? You can't help wonder where on earth they get them from but, anyway, it is funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the Fisheries Council of South Australia and the CSIRO.

PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture is leading this study and includes researchers from ANU Enterprise, CSIRO, KAL Analysis and Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. It is essential to obtain information from as many recreational fishers as possible. Even those who perhaps don't fish often, even if they have only fished once, we still invite them to complete the survey, because without this information PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture will not have a full understanding of the social benefits of fishing that are obviously really important to different people and to this very important recreational activity.