TIME TO REEL IN RECREATIONAL FISHING TRUST FUNDING

[Member]

The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Small Business
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 6 February 2012

TIME TO REEL IN RECREATIONAL FISHING TRUST FUNDING
Organisations and anglers with ideas for projects to help improve recreational fishing are
now invited to apply for funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, Minister for
Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, announced today.
Katrina Hodgkinson said funds raised in the past year through recreational fishing licence
fees is now available to assist recreational fishing groups, community organisations,
councils and individuals to improve fishing in their local areas.
“Fishing is an immensely popular recreational activity, with around one million people
dropping a line in NSW every year,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“Money generated from the sale of NSW recreational fishing licenses is placed into
separate saltwater and freshwater fishing trusts, which spend all their funds on improving
recreational fishing for the State’s avid angling community.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to get much-needed fishing projects off the ground for the
benefit recreational fishers in NSW.”
Funding from NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts is open to individuals, groups and
organisations, including fishing clubs, local councils and universities. Joint applications are
also encouraged.
Ms Hodgkinson said the allocation of trust funds is recommended by committees of expert
fishers as part of a five year strategy that will focus on both short and long term projects.
“The NSW Government is committed to giving our State’s anglers new opportunities to reel
in a winner.
“In the 2012/13 round of Recreational Fishing Trust funding, the NSW Government is
allocating about $14 million to a wide variety of programs including fish stocking, artificial
reefs, fish aggregating devices, fishing facilities, Fishcare volunteers, fishing clinics and
essential research to improve recreational fishing,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
Applications for funding close on Friday, 2 March 2012.
Funding applications must benefit recreational fishing. Contributing funding and in-kind
support, such as voluntary labour, is encouraged.
For more information or assistance with applications contact NSW Department of Primary
Industries on (02) 6648 3917, email recreational.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au or visit
www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au.