Recreational fishing survey
The purpose of the recreational fishing surveys is to understand South Australia’s use of community-shared fish stocks. It helps us assess the sustainability of state fishing resources and inform fishery managers so they can maintain healthy fish stocks into the future.
2021–22 survey background
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 and on-site surveys as these provide the best available information on recreational fishing participation, catch and effort.
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]
Smart phone app evaluation
As part of a national Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) project, this survey included a research case study for using smartphone apps as a tool in future rec fishing surveys.
The research was led by SARDI in partnership with University of Tasmania, and jointly funded by FRDC and the Government of South Australia. Read the project findings and recommendations.
Information collected
The 2021–22 survey asked recreational fishers how often they fish, what they caught, harvested, and released, and about their demographics (age, gender, and country of birth). It aimed to generate estimates of the:
- participation number
- effort (fisher days)
- catch number for all species – total retained and released
- catch weight for key commercial species for 12 months at state-wide and regional scales.
Telephone surveys
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
On-site sampling
Researchers measured the size of fish and invertebrates such as crabs, squid, and rock lobsters, that were captured by recreational fishers on selected days at key state fishing sites 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
Goolwa Pipi (cockle) survey
Due to the limited distribution of the 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).
Key findings
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%, which was higher than the previous 2 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 3 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 tonnes) and 1.0 million released
- Snapper catch numbers were low as 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 tonnes) of cockle were estimated to be caught across the surveyed area from the on-site surveys. This represents a 24% increase of the total number 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.
