QUICK FACTS
- The recreational fishing industry in Tasmania contributes an estimated $270 million to the state’s economy
- One in four Tasmanians love to wet a line and enjoy all that recreational fishing has
to offer- More than 18,000 licensed recreational lobster fishers and 11,000 licensed recreational abalone fishers
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Officially recognise recreational fishing as a “sport” and “active recreation” activity, including in any new or amended legislation.
- Keep saltwater recreational rod and line fishing fee-free.
- Establish a stock enhancement program for sand flathead and continue our rock lobster translocation program.
- Control the invasive long-spined sea urchin and promote our abalone stocks.
- Continue to support our inland fishers.
- Improve facilities for recreational sea fishers and local communities.
- Increase funding for TARfish to support recreational sea fishing activities.
- Deploy additional Fish Aggregating Devices for better fishing opportunities.
- Support our commercial fishers and provide Seafood Industry Tasmania with funding support to develop a wild fisheries strategy.
- Fund the Stay Afloat Program for mental health and wellbeing.
- Support implementation of the ShellMAP partnership.
- Continue to implement an integrated biotoxin monitoring program.
- Develop a King George Whiting Harvesting Strategy.
- Invest in world-leading research
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is ensuring Tasmania is the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Officially recognise recreational fishing as a “sport” and “active recreation” activity
The Tasmanian Liberal Government want to see sustainable, vibrant and healthy recreational fisheries into the future, and we want our fishers to have enjoyable fishing experiences.
Going fishing is so important to many Tasmanians. One in four Tasmanians love to go fishing and enjoy the experiences and benefits it can bring to our well-being.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will officially recognise recreational fishing as a “sport” and “active recreation” activity. We will also recognise recreational fishers in any new or amended legislation.
This will mean that recreational fishing peak bodies will be eligible to apply for Active Tasmania funding programs as they become available, opening the door to funding opportunities and benefits for our recreational fishing community.
Cost of living pressures are having an impact on many Tasmanians and a re-elected majority Liberal government is committed to encouraging participation across our recreational fisheries. We want to make sure people can keep going fishing.
Keep saltwater recreational rod and line fishing fee-free
The Tasmanian Liberal Government recognises the benefits of fishing as a recreational activity and the importance of encouraging participation and improving access to our inland and sea fisheries.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will never impose fees on saltwater recreation rod and line fishing.
Establish a stock enhancement program for sand flathead and continue our rock lobster translocation program
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide funding to support the recovery of our iconic sand flathead through investment in a targeted stock enhancement program involving the translocation of faster growing fish from areas where they are abundant to areas where they have been overfished. This work will be informed by existing recovery research work already underway.
The East Coast rock lobster translocation program has been running since 2015 and in partnership with the rock lobster industry we have relocated more than 250,000 rock lobsters from the south-west coast to the east coast, boosting stocks and providing better catch yields.
We will extend this program so that these good outcomes can continue.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will explore the feasibility of using a marine hatchery facility to enhance natural stocks of sand flathead and other valued recreational fishing species.
We will:
- Increase and extend support for the East Coast rock lobster translocation program through an investment of $600,000 over four years.
- Invest $1.2 million over four years for a stock enhancement program for sand flathead on top of our $1 million already committed for our flathead recovery program.
Control the invasive long-spined sea urchin and promote our abalone stocks
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue to support the Abalone Industry Reinvestment Fund by extending funding to 2026.
This funding will continue initiatives to enhance abalone stocks, particularly in Eastern Tasmania, and address the impacts of the invasive long-spined sea urchin. This will support sustainable outcomes for our commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries.
Continuing to support Inland Fishers
The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s commitment to waive junior angling licence fees for inland fisheries saw a 70 per cent increase in junior angler participation rates, which is great news for our regional communities.
We want to see this continue and are committed to making fishing affordable for families and encouraging fishing across the state.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will also continue to deliver improved angler access to our recreational inland waterways. Since 2019, $1.2 million has been allocated for new and upgraded facilities and amenities for inland fishing and improved angler access to our trout waters.
We want to see this work continue and will keep working in partnership with Anglers Alliance Tasmania and local councils to deliver improved access to priority lakes and rivers.
For inland anglers we will:
- Extend the junior fee waiver for inland fishing licences beyond the 2023/24 season for an additional three years.
- Provide funding to continue the tagged trout program over the next three years, with any residual funds to be allocated to improved angler access.
- Continue funding support to Anglers Alliance Tasmania to support junior fishing education programs and management of web cams so that anglers can readily check weather conditions for free before heading to the lakes for a fishing trip.
Improved facilities for recreational sea fishers and local communities
The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s $2 million Better Fishing Fund was introduced in 2021 and provides an opportunity for the Tasmanian community to be directly involved in deciding what facilities in our coastal areas can be developed or upgraded to provide better access and amenities for our recreational sea fishers.
This grants program has already funded the construction of fishing pontoons, jetty upgrades, fish cleaning facilities and buoy-mounted weather stations.
These initiatives will provide more options for our recreational fishers to go fishing for different species of fish in different locations around the State, supporting our regional communities through increased recreational fisher visitation and improving the recreational fisher experience.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will extend the Better Fishing Fund to support delivery of improved facilities for recreational sea fishers and local communities.
Continue funding for TARfish to support recreational sea fishing activities
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will also continue to support the delivery of recreational sea fishing activities and community stewardship initiatives through the recreational sea fishing peak body, TARfish.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will increase our funding to the recreational sea fishing peak body, TARfish, to support delivery of recreational sea fishing activities and community stewardship initiatives.
Deploy additional Fish Aggregating Devices for better fishing opportunities.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will fund the deployment and maintenance of additional Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), structures that can attract different fish species and provide better fishing opportunities for anglers.
Supporting Tasmanian fishing families
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue our strong support for our Tasmanian seafood industry and its employees.
Providing certainty and opportunity for regional seafood businesses and fishing fleets is a key priority for this Government.
Sustainable fisheries management is not just about ensuring that our Tasmanian fish stocks are healthy and accessible; it’s also about ensuring that Tasmanian-based fishers can continue to benefit from having access to these resources.
We want to protect the way of life that is enjoyed by so many in regional areas, the smaller businesses that catch, land and process fish in these regions, and the fishers that berth their vessels and live in these areas.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government is committed to a commercial fisheries resource allocation model that maximises the benefit to Tasmania, Tasmanian fishers, their families and the communities they live and work in.
We will consider the social and economic implications of fisheries management decisions, when it comes to resource allocations, and we will back in Tasmanians, Tasmanian fishing businesses, their employees and families.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide Seafood Industry Tasmania with funding support and partner with it to develop a wild fisheries strategy.
Continue to fund the Stay Afloat Program for mental health and wellbeing
Stay Afloat is an industry-driven partnership with Rural Alive and Well (RAW) to support the mental health and wellbeing of our seafood industry workforce.
This Government acknowledges the vital role that good mental health plays in creating a thriving and sustainable industry.
"Stay Afloat" is more than a program; it's a lifeline within the seafood industry, providing essential support for fishers, their families, and their communities.
It's the quiet conversations at work, at home, at leisure that can change lives and we are committed to extending our funding to support the continued success of this program.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue funding the Stay Afloat Program providing $120,000 a year for two years to support the health and well-being of the seafood industry and the communities they operate in.
Support implementation of the ShellMAP Partnership
The Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) partnership between the government, the oyster industry and seafood industry Tasmania, supports market access for the shellfish industry.
ShellMAP plays an important role in protecting public health, including contributing to the safe harvest of shellfish and other commercial species
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue funding to the peak industry body Oysters Tasmania for an industry development officer to perform extension services and enhance delivery of this important program with $200,000 over the next two years.
We will also continue to work with the seafood industry on options for implementation of an integrated biotoxin monitoring program and provide $110,000 in funding to offset sampling costs.
Committing to developing a King George whiting harvesting strategy
The Tasmanian Liberals recognise the growing popularity of species such as snapper, King George whiting and yellowtail kingfish.
These species are great alternatives to sand flathead, and we are committed to establishing management arrangements that ensure recreational fishers can continue to enjoy catching these species into the future.
There are already size and bag limits on King George whiting for recreational fishers. These do not extend to commercial fishers. King George whiting is being heavily commercially fished and will become a stock issue in the near future if not managed.
This strategy will ensure the long-term viability of the species for our recreational fishers.
Investment in world-leading research
Our wild capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors are major contributors to our regional economies, employing thousands of Tasmanians. We want to see these industries to continue to thrive and be sustainable.
The Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration Agreement (SMRCA) between Government and the University of Tasmania ensures Government has access to independent science to manage and develop Tasmania’s iconic marine resources, now and into the future.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will strengthen this agreement by increasing investment by $2 million over four years in research to support fisheries and aquaculture management.
Net Cost: $6.5 million