The Minns Labor Government has delivered on its election commitment to improve oversight of how NSW fishing licence fees are spent, with new regulation now in place to establish a Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council to oversee the spending of the funds.
The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be responsible for providing advice to the NSW Minister for Agriculture on all expenditure from the Recreational Fishing Freshwater and Saltwater Trusts.
Revenue raised from recreational fishing license fees, around $16 million annually, is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing experiences, opportunities and habitats in NSW.
Since 2001, the Recreational Fishing Trusts have supported funding for more than 3,300 large and small projects, with almost 3,000 projects completed.
By providing advice directly to the Minister, the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will increase the confidence of recreational fishers in the way trust funds are spent, by improving the decision-making transparency.
In addition to members with expertise in recreational fishing, the new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will look to have members with expertise in other important areas, including fisheries science and infrastructure construction, to assist with the review of the many diverse types of funding applications that are received each year.
The existing advisory council on recreational fishing will continue to provide a key role with its focus on advising the Minister on recreational fishing issues, while the new council will focus on how expenditure is allocated to projects and ensuring they benefit recreational fishers.
Appointment to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be made following an open and transparent recruitment process that can now get underway following the change to the regulation.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"In 2023-24, over 400,000 NSW recreational fishing licences were issued, and the NSW Government is committed to ensuring that recreational fishers fishing fees are used transparently and deliver the greatest benefit to saltwater and freshwater fishers.
"Projects funded through the Recreational Fishing Trusts-ranging from improvements to fishing access and facilities, to the annual stocking of millions of fish into waterways-play a crucial role in enhancing fishing opportunities for both current and future fishers in NSW.
"The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will bring specific expertise to decision making processes and ensure that recreational fishers can have confidence in the way funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts are used and invested.
"I look forward to welcoming applications and appointing members to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council following an open and transparent recruitment process this year."
