Trust Funding Summary

376,363

NSW Recreational Fishing Licenses sold

$15.7
million

Revenue received from fishing fees (licenses)

$15.5
million

Drawn from the Trusts to fund projects

Financial Summary

Funding of $15.5 million was drawn from the Trusts in 2021–22 to support a wide range of projects that improve recreational fishing. Revenue received in 2021–22 from fishing fees (licenses) totalled $15.7 million (compared with $17.7 million in 2020–21).

The closing balance for the Trusts at 30 June 2022 was $20.7 million.

Licence Sales

A total of 376,363 recreational fishing licenses (new and renewals) were sold during 2021–22 (compared with 474,517 in 2020–21). Recreational fishers purchased their licenses though a variety of different channels in 2021-22, with online sales being the most popular option, accounting for 79% of sales.

Recreational fishing licence types sold in 2021-22

0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
  • 3 Days
  • 1 Month
  • 1 Year
  • 3 Years

Licence fees at work

Since 2001, over 3,000 large and small projects have received funding from the Trusts, with more than 2,800 projects completed. Of the 281 existing projects, 129 were approved for funding in 2021-22 worth $21 million.

In 2021-22, funding of $15.5 million was drawn from the Recreational Fishing Trusts to support a wide range of projects that improve recreational fishing.

Learn more about the priority funding areas:

Fisheries Enhancement
Fishing Facilities & Access
Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation
Research
Education & Promotion
Fisheries Officers

129 Projects

Total Value

$21 million

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Area % value of total Number of projects Total value of projects
Fisheries Enhancement 19.2% 15 $4 million
Fishing Facilities and Access 5.9% 32 $2.8 million
Research 15.5% 26 $3.3 million
Aquatic habitat rehabilitation 11.2% 11 $2.3 million
Education & promotion 11.8% 31 $2.5 million
Trust program delivery 4.5% 7 $946,000
Fisheries officers 13% 3 $2.7 million
Licence payment system 8% 3 $1.7 million
GLS fees 3.6% 1 $750,000

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Trust Management & Administration

Funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts are used to support the administration of the recreational fishing licence fee and the management of the Trusts, including management of grants, to ensure transparent and accountable governance arrangements.

Learn more about the Trusts