Recreational Fishing

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the government's commitment to a strong recreational fishing sector in our state?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his question. Around 360,000 South Australians take part in recreational fishing each year. That has an estimated economic impact of almost $1 billion per year, and that includes spend on things such as travel, boats, fuel, fishing equipment, food, accommodation, and so much more, with much of that spent in regional coastal areas that are synonymous with incredible fishing and, of course, hospitality once back on land.

Since the Malinauskas government was elected, we have been working our way through a number of commitments we made to strengthen recreational fishing in South Australia, and the vast majority of those have now been delivered. Firstly, the state government reinstated RecFish SA as the peak body and independent voice for our state's recreational fishing community, after the former Liberal government cut the funding and installed an internal body to advise it on recreational fishing.

The government further committed to recognising recreational fishing as an activity in the sport and recreation sector, which enabled fishing clubs and groups to apply for grant funding through local, state and federal governments, with grants able to flow to fishing clubs and groups through various programs, including the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing initiatives like the Active Club Program. The government also committed to and delivered investment in fishing infrastructure, with a $1 million upgrade of O'Sullivan's Beach boat ramp, and implementing a recreational fishing tourism strategy, which the South Australian Tourism Commission has now delivered alongside RecFish SA.

One of the most important commitments we made was to provide support to recreational fishing programs for women, children and diverse multicultural communities, and I am incredibly pleased with the work that has happened in this space. With funding from the state government, RecFish SA has delivered what I am advised is the largest women's and children's fishing program in Australia. Over 100 Reel Women and Reeling in Junior clinics have been run so far in 2024-25, with more to come.

RecFish SA has travelled right across the state delivering the clinics, with 24 clinics just this month across the Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, which were enthusiastically embraced by the schools, businesses and community groups that were involved. I am told that the largest clinic had around 100 attendees, which is I think very worthy. The recent RecFish SA Facebook posts, with many happy school kids, really reinforces what the program is all about.

I am advised that 30 metropolitan and regional schools have engaged with RecFish SA to deliver fishing programs free of charge. It is great to see that kind of engagement. There is something special that draws our kids' interests to marine life and fishing, with school aquaculture programs being incredibly popular amongst students at the schools I have had the pleasure of visiting. The Malinauskas government continues to work closely with the recreational fishing community to identify needs and priorities as we continue to see strong growth in one of our state's favourite pastimes, which for many is, after all, a way of life.

Through the advocacy of RecFish SA, we have seen progress made in a range of areas, such as increased Goolwa pipi bag limits, changes to protect kingfish allocations and important input into the snapper science and communication strategies. I would also acknowledge the recreational sector, led by RecFish SA, for their commitment to sustainable fisheries and their work across a range of bodies and committees across PIRSA that contributed towards that. I look forward to working alongside RecFish SA and the rec fishing community to deliver more outcomes for South Australia's 360,000 anglers.