Survey shows rec fishing still close to the hearts of Queenslanders

[MattBarwick]

Hi guys - a quick research update:

A recent statewide survey conducted by Fisheries Queensland has been looking at participation rates, where people fish and the species people catch, and confirms that fishing is still close to the hearts of Queenslanders.

Approximately 700,000 Queenslanders (roughly 17% of the population aged 5 years and older) went fishing, crabbing and prawning between 2009 and 2010. This is much higher participation compared to other popular outdoor activities such as golf, cycling and swimming (ABS catalogue 4177.0). However whilst these numbers may be high, participation in rec fishing has dropped since 2000. In 2000 there were 747,000 Queensland recreational fishers representing 23% of the population aged 5 years and above, compared to 703,000 recreational fishers representing 17% of Queenslanders 5 years and above in 2010.

Click on the link below for a detailed fact sheet summarising results:

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Fisheries_RecreationalFishing/SWRFS-Phase-1-factsheet-May.pdf

An interesting short article on the survey and its findings is also provided on the Fisheries Queensland FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/FisheriesQueensland