The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP Minister for Primary Industries Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE Monday 18 March 2013

SURVEY TO REVEAL RECREATIONAL FISHING FACTS Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson today announced the NSW Government will commence a statewide survey to obtain up-to-date information on recreational fishing in NSW. Ms Hodgkinson said the comprehensive 12 month survey is being undertaken to ensure the State’s valuable fisheries resources continue to be managed on a sustainable basis. “Labor sat on its hands for a decade without updating information about the more than one million people in NSW who fish recreationally,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “The NSW Government’s survey aims to measure how many people go fishing, where they fish and what they catch.” Up to 20,000 households will be randomly contacted in the next few weeks to determine the participation rate of fishing in NSW. Householders who report an intention to fish in the coming 12 months will be invited to participate by keeping a fishing diary for one year. Approximately 6,000 recreational fishermen are expected to complete the diary survey. “The success of the survey relies heavily on the co-operation of the recreational fishing community so I urge those invited to participate,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “It doesn’t matter if you fish regularly or only occasionally, the information collected will be valuable in providing a sustainable recreational fishery into the future. “All survey phases will be conducted on a completely voluntary and confidential basis by a widely respected company that has recently completed recreational fishing surveys in Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.” “This is the first comprehensive survey in NSW since the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (NRIFS) in 2000-01. “The NRIFS provided an important benchmark in the assessment of recreational fishing in NSW and showed recreational fishing is an important activity in terms of social and economic benefits to the community,” Ms Hodgkinson said. The 2013-14 recreational fishing survey is being funded by the Recreational Fishing Trust. For further information visit: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/info/survey-2013-14