A SURVEY carried out on gamefishermen at Bermagui on the NSW far south coast may help decide future government direction of marine parks.
Entrants in the annual Yellowfin Tuna Gamefishing Tournament were surveyed by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).
The research was the final survey conducted at gamefishing tournaments around NSW this year. The research findings will be used to improve fisheries management and is also expected to add to the marine parks debate.
Senior Scientist, Peter Ward, says the research will reveal the economic impact of recreational fishing.
“It quantifies exactly how much money and value these sorts ofactivities bring to small communities, and how important they are to those communities,” he told the ABC.
“So you really need to quantify these things and have some good knowledge in terms of their importance if you are going to start considering things like marine parks.”
