Recreational fishing survey

Survey purpose

Recreational fishing surveys help:

  • understand the use of South Australia’s community-shared fish stocks
  • assess the sustainability of SA’s fishing resources
  • give fishery managers the information they need to make sure there are healthy fish stocks into the future .

The 2021–22 recreational fishing survey updates previous state-wide surveys conducted during 2013–14 and 2007–08 and the national survey conducted during 2001–01.  We used telephone surveys and on-site surveys as these provide the best available information on recreational fishing participation, catch and effort.

As part of a National Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Project the 2021–22 survey also included an evaluation of smart phone applications as a tool for future recreational fishing surveys.

This research was led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) in partnership with University of Tasmania and jointly funded by FRDC and the Government of South Australia.

Information the survey collected

The 2021–22 survey collected information about recreational fishers, including:

  • how often they fish
  • demographics - age, gender, and country of birth
  • what they catch - harvested and released.

The survey aimed to generate estimates of:

  • participation (by number)
  • effort (fisher days)
  • catch (by number) for all species (total, retained and released)
  • catch (by weight) for key commercial species for 12 months at state-wide and regional scales.

Telephone surveys

Researchers from the University of Tasmania completed telephone surveys from 1 February 2021 to 28 February 2022. South Australian residents were randomly contacted by researchers and invited to take part.

Researchers sent a fishing diary to participants to fill out any time they went fishing between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022. Participants were regularly contacted via phone to collect information recorded in their diaries.

The telephone Survey of Recreational Fishing in South Australia was reviewed and approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) H0023757.

On-site sampling

Researchers measured the size of fish and invertebrates such as crabs, squid and rock lobsters, which were captured by recreational fishers on selected days at key fishing sites in the state from March 2021 to February 2022.

These measurements were used to calculate an average weight for key species and convert the estimates of fish numbers from the phone survey to a total harvest weight (biomass).

On-site sampling to support the 2021–22 Recreational Fishing Survey was reviewed and approved by the University of Adelaide HREC 2021–034.

Goolwa pipi (cockle) survey

Due to the limited distribution of the Goolwa pipi (cockle), an on-site survey was also conducted to estimate pipi harvesting during the 2020–21 season.

This survey will provide an update on the 2013–14 on-site survey.

Researchers conducted voluntary face-to-face surveys with fishers about their catch at Goolwa, Middleton and the Sir Richard Peninsula.

The South Australian Goolwa Pipi Survey was reviewed and approved by the University of Adelaide HREC 2020–238.

Results

State-wide participation

  • More than 356,708 South Australians participated  in recreational fishing in the 12 months prior to March 2021.
  • The overall participation rate was 23.3%, this was higher than the previous two surveys and comparable with the 2000–01 estimates (23.4%).
  • Participation rates were highest for fishers accessing inshore marine waters, residing in regional areas, aged 30 to 59 years old, and males.
  • There was a notable increase in female participation compared to the previous three surveys.

State-wide catch and effort

  • During the survey period (March 2021 to February 2022) recreational fishers participated in 1,305,323 fisher days with an average of 4.4 days per fisher.
  • Most fishing was undertaken in saltwater.
  • Line fishing was the most common fishing method.
  • Shore-based fishing accounted for greater effort than boat-based fishing.
  • A wide variety of marine and freshwater species were caught.
  • King George Whiting was the most caught marine finfish by number with 1.1 million fish retained (estimated weight 305 tonnes) and 705,000 released.
  • Blue Swimmer Crab were the most caught marine invertebrate by number with 921,000 retained (estimated weight 251 t) and 1.0 million released.
  • The low catch of Snapper was a result of the fishery closures and high release rates were observed.

Goolwa pipi

  • During the 2020–21 season, 4.26 million (estimated weight 67.7 t) Goolwa pipi were estimated as caught across the surveyed area from the on-site surveys. This represents a 24% increase of the total number of pipi caught compared to 2013–14 (3.24 million).
  • Pipi caught during 2020–21 were larger than those caught during the 2013–14 survey, explaining the relative increase in catch weight over numbers.
  • There was a 51% increase in retained catch weight of pipi compared to 2013–14.

Download survey results

Previous surveys

Survey background

Video transcript

[Music]

[Dr Crystal Beckmann Fisheries Research Scientist, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia South Australian Research and Development Institute]

Did you know recent estimates suggest nearly 277 000 people, or one in six South Australians participate in recreational fishing.

It's important to accurately assess recreational catch, so we have good information guiding the decision-making that protects South Australia's fish stocks.

That's why the South Australian Research and Development Institute is working with the University of Tasmania to conduct a statewide recreational fishing survey; estimating, the participation, catch and effort of rec fishers.

[Jamie Crawford, Recreational Fisher]

For this survey to be successful it needs the help of a recreational fishing community.

There are three elements to it. A telephone survey, on-site sampling and self-reporting via the SA Fishing app.

South Australia residents will be randomly contacted by phone at the start of the year-long survey, with those contacted fairly representing the fishing community; including people of all ages and backgrounds with varying levels of interest and fishing ability.

Interviewers will check in with this group regularly to record their catch.

This survey will provide important information that is comparable with previous statewide surveys.

For those South Australians not contacted directly, you can still take part in the survey using the SA Fishing app.

Download the app to record your catch and encourage your fishing mates to do the same.

This is an exciting survey with important outcomes. Your participation will make a big difference and we encourage you to get involved.

This is our opportunity as fishers to contribute as citizen scientists, and help maintain great fishing opportunities for generations to come.

[Dr Crystal Beckmann]

We recognise the way people communicate is changing and there is a need to develop new tools to measure fishing participation, catch and effort.

All rec fishers are encouraged to download the SA Fishing app.

You can submit your activity any time you go fishing.

The more participants, the better the results.

So whether you fish regularly or only once or twice a year, your information is important.

This survey will help improve our understanding of how apps can be used as a tool for estimating recreational fishing activity.

Informing better fisheries management now and into the future.

[Music]

Page last reviewed: 22 Feb 2023

 


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