About the Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing
The Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing (ACoRF) is a statutory body established under the provisions of the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994. The Council provides high quality advice to the Minister for Primary Industries on matters relating to recreational fishing. It comprises a Chairman and persons with expertise in estuary fishing, offshore fishing, freshwater fishing, underwater fishing, sale of fishing tackle, fishing media and charter boat fishing. Current membership to the ACoRF is as follows:
Council Member |
Qualification & Fishing Interests |
|---|---|
Bruce Schumacher Chairperson |
Chair of the Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing (ACoRF), the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC) and the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFSTEC). Life member of the Fishing Clubs Association (FCA), executive member of RECFISH Australia. National and international fishing experience, offshore fishing champion, recognised fishing radio presenter, fishing journalist and weekly columnist for various newspapers and magazines. |
Claudette Rechtorik |
Member of the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFSTEC). Nature Conservation Council Representative. Experience in marine management, including fish habitat research. Tertiary qualifications in related fields. |
Ann Garard |
Charter Fishing Boat operator. Experienced saltwater angler (offshore/deep sea). Current representative on the Marine and Estuarine Recreational Charter Management Advisory Committee (since 2002) and the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFSTEC). |
Neil Ryan |
Owner of the recreational fishing website Sportsfish Australia. Experienced estuarine and freshwater fisher and organiser of the Windamere Golden Classic, one of the state’s longest running and premier freshwater fishing tournaments. |
John Humphries |
Life member, NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers, Fishcare Volunteer Team Leader. Member, NSW Rod Fishers' Society. |
John Clarke |
Chair of the Tomaree Peninsula PRO-AM Committee. Experienced recreational fisher. Fishing media reporter, including local newspaper and radio. Co-ordinates fishing clinics for juniors and new entrants to the sport. |
John Drew |
Member of the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFSTEC). Life member and president of the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club, member of the NSW Amateur Fishing Club's Association. |
Kevin McKinnon |
Member of the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC). Member of Tocumwal Angling Club. Experienced freshwater fisher. Fishing events co-ordinator. Contributor to restocking and fish monitoring programs. |
Charles Howe |
Experienced recreational/commercial fisher in both estuary and offshore fisheries. Involved in fish habitat restoration projects. President of Seagulls Fishing Club. Representation on ACoRF supported by the Tweed Aboriginal Co-operative Society Limited, due to extensive consultation on issues of concern to the local indigenous community over time. |
Janette McLeod |
Experienced estuary, beach and boat based fisher and Fishcare Volunteer. |
Sanchia Glaskin |
Vast offshore fishing experience. Life member of Canberra Game Fishing Club. NSW Game Fishing Association delegate and Southern Zone Chairman. |
Ronald Croker |
Member of the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC). Experienced freshwater angler. Has assisted DPI with trout stocking. Is founding member and president of Southern Bass Fishing Club. |
Adrian Wayne |
Experienced spearfisher. Chairman of NSW Spear Fishing Association. |
Max Castle |
President of Sea Bees Boating Club. Vice President and Public Officer of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW. Member of Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) NSW. |
Peter Cooley |
Experienced saltwater fisher. Extensive experience in designing and delivering training courses to assist aboriginal youth, e.g. Catch N Cook (Indigenous Youth Fishing Program), which aims to educate youths in life skills, teach fishing techniques and promote environmental issues. |
ACoRF plays a key role in consultation over new changes to recreational fishing and advises on the feasibility and acceptability of management initiatives. Some of the major achievements to date include: reviewing proposed management arrangements for the recreational fishing fee and former freshwater fishing licence; review of the charter fishing boat industry; assessing recreational fishing regulations relating to spearfishing, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing; input into the development of the Indigenous Fisheries Strategy and National Recreational Fishing Survey, and advising on a range of other issues relating to recreational fishing access, fishing codes of practice, fishing competitions, stock enhancement, fish tagging and animal care and ethics.