QRFN supports the notion of a Recreational Fishing Licence (or permit) for Queensland, only if it meets a strict set of conditions. Following is the QRFN policy statement regarding a Rec Fishing Licence:
A recreational fishing licence/permit for Queensland is supported conditional on it being structured in order to ensure all funds raised are directed solely for the benefit of recreational fishing and fishers by way of a Trust Fund overseen by a stakeholder Board comprising a majority from the recreational fishing sector that manages the prioritisation and expenditure of the funds raised from the scheme
QRFN has identified a set of 10 conditions as follows, which it believes must be met by any government looking to introduce a recreational fishing licence into Queensland.
10 CONDITIONS REQUIRED for a Recreational Fishing Licence
1. Licence fees collected must be quarantined in a Trust account and cannot be used by government for any purpose other than those items approved by the appropriation/expenditure/review board and used to directly benefit recreational fishing in Qld above what would be normally expected of government.
2. All other existing Queensland government fisheries related fees, licences, permits and levies on recreational fishers to be removed immediately or phased out, including but not limited to SIP (Stocked Impoundment Permit) and RUF (Recreational Use Fee). However a commitment must be made to maintain at least previous funding levels to the SIPs and Suntag schemes.
3. RFL to be all species, areas, gears, and fisheries involving recreational fishing (freshwater and saltwater)
4. An appropriation/expenditure/review board with an independent chair to be created with a majority of board members to be recreational fishing representatives from across the state. A process is put in place to ensure that different recreational fisheries and different regions across the state are represented on the Board.
5. Conditions of expenditure/distribution to be determined prior to the introduction of a licence. All monies collected are to specifically benefit recreational fishing with unspent monies to carry over from year to year.
6. Qld Fisheries Management [or controlling authority] and government shall receive total funds at a maximum of 10% of monies received annually from the RFL scheme to fund administration and collection costs.
7. A major priority of funding to be the buying out and compensation of commercial netting in priority recreational fishing areas, especially adjacent to population centres.
8. A commitment from Government that ongoing progress will be made each year on the creation of net free areas with priority given to all previously identified priority net free areas, with at least 2 - 3 per year for the first 3 years.
9. A RFL to apply to all individuals fishing recreationally in Qld waters (apart from age and pension exceptions), with fees to be reviewed annually after a fixed initial 3 year period.
10. Provision of a limited annual grants program available to Queensland recreational fishing organizations.
1. Licence fees collected must be quarantined in a Trust account and cannot be used by government for any purpose other than those items approved by the appropriation/expenditure/review board and used to directly benefit recreational fishing in Qld above what would be normally expected of government.
2. All other existing Queensland government fisheries related fees, licences, permits and levies on recreational fishers to be removed immediately or phased out, including but not limited to SIP (Stocked Impoundment Permit) and RUF (Recreational Use Fee). However a commitment must be made to maintain at least previous funding levels to the SIPs and Suntag schemes.
3. RFL to be all species, areas, gears, and fisheries involving recreational fishing (freshwater and saltwater)
4. An appropriation/expenditure/review board with an independent chair to be created with a majority of board members to be recreational fishing representatives from across the state. A process is put in place to ensure that different recreational fisheries and different regions across the state are represented on the Board.
5. Conditions of expenditure/distribution to be determined prior to the introduction of a licence. All monies collected are to specifically benefit recreational fishing with unspent monies to carry over from year to year.
6. Qld Fisheries Management [or controlling authority] and government shall receive total funds at a maximum of 10% of monies received annually from the RFL scheme to fund administration and collection costs.
7. A major priority of funding to be the buying out and compensation of commercial netting in priority recreational fishing areas, especially adjacent to population centres.
8. A commitment from Government that ongoing progress will be made each year on the creation of net free areas with priority given to all previously identified priority net free areas, with at least 2 - 3 per year for the first 3 years.
9. A RFL to apply to all individuals fishing recreationally in Qld waters (apart from age and pension exceptions), with fees to be reviewed annually after a fixed initial 3 year period.
10. Provision of a limited annual grants program available to Queensland recreational fishing organizations.
