THE Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).will be conducting an angler survey over the Easter weekend at the Maritimo Billfish Bonanza gamefishing tournament in Mooloolaba, Qld.
The survey is part of an ongoing social and economic study of gamefishing in eastern Australia.
ABARES Deputy Executive Director Paul Morris said that more information is required on gamefishing to understand its importance to the broader community.
“ABARES researchers will interview anglers at boat ramps and wharves during three tournaments this year, as well as surveying anglers outside tournaments and interviewing local businesses and community members,” Morris said.
The survey builds on similar work in Port Stephens and Bermagui over the past few months, where ABARES researchers interviewed over 300 gamefishers and 120 businesses and community members.
“Mooloolaba provides a broad cross-section of gamefishing activities ranging from charter boats to organised tournaments, through to gamefishers who just want to enjoy the excitement of encountering bigfish like tuna and marlin,” Morris said.
The study is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and has the support of the Game Fishing Association of Australia.
The study’s report will be available in late 2011.
