About

Background

The World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC) is the preeminent and largest international recreational fisheries conference attracting fisheries experts, researchers, policymakers, industry and anglers from around the globe.  They come together to share their science, their issues, their experiences, failures, successes and vision. And together they unite to learn about current research trends, science breakthroughs, to network, to share problems and produce solutions.

 

In July 2021, Melbourne was announced internationally as the host of the 10th World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC10), with the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) as host organisation. The VFA will deliver a world-standard conference that will generate immediate and ongoing benefits to both the Victorian recreational fishing sector, and Victorian/ Australian tourism more generally.

The conference dates: 20-22 February 2023 at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

Australia – A Global Recreational Fishing Hotspot

Australia is a large country and we’re fortunate to support unique and productive recreational fisheries, in temperate to tropical waters, marine, estuarine and freshwater systems across pristine to urban environments. From beautiful and iconic Murray cod that can be caught nowhere else in the world, to Yellowtail Kingfish and Southern Bluefin Tuna enormous sportfish caught close to shore, legendary barramundi in the top end, and even first-class trout fishing in Tasmania and the mainland high country – Australia offers some amazing recreational fishing opportunities and consequently supports some of the highest recreational fishing participation rates in the world.

The Victorian State Government has invested over $81 million over the last five years to increase fishing participation and improve recreational fishing experiences, making it one of the most progressive recreational fishing jurisdictions in the world. Find out more about Go Fishing Victoria program here.

Goals

Hosting WRFC10 in Australia provides a unique and valuable opportunity for researchers, recreational fishers, angling organisations, governments worldwide to meet and exchange knowledge on hot topics on recreational fishing.

The opportunity to host WRFC10 also presents an unrivalled chance to increase participation in and raise the profile of recreational fishing by showcasing Victoria’s fishing and tourism experiences to the global recreational fishing community and recreational fishing stakeholders from across the world.

Victorian Fisheries Authority: Local Hosting Organisation

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) is an independent statutory authority established to effectively manage Victoria’s fisheries resources. The Victorian Fisheries Authority is responsible for the management and regulation of a fisheries including licensing, development of management plans and compliance and enforcement functions. The Victorian Fisheries Authority also supports the development of recreational and commercial fishing and aquaculture in Victoria and provides advice to government on a range of fisheries management opportunities.

Melbourne’s bid is led by the Victorian Fisheries Authority in partnership with recreational fishing organisations including the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), VRFish and FutureFish Foundation (the two major Victorian recreational fishing advocacy organisations), the Women in Recreational Fishing Network (WIRF) and the Australian Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC).

The VFA also supports the development of recreational and commercial fishing and aquaculture in Victoria and provides advice to government on a range of fisheries management opportunities.