Fishing competitions are an important activity for many recreational fishers and fishing clubs. They provide opportunities for family and community interaction, as well as broader economic benefits to the locality.

There are some community concerns that fishing competitions attract large numbers of fishers to an area, which may put additional pressure on local fish stocks and fishing amenities beyond normal fishing effort.

It is therefore responsible practice for competition organisers to consider applying additional rules to those set in government regulations for normal recreational fishing.

This Primefact covers the guidelines that have been developed to help event organisers abide by the voluntary Code of Practice:

• Improved practices: all events
• Improved practices: catch and keep events
• Improved practices: catch and release events