Page 8 - GFAA Gamefishing 2014 Journal

8 FROM THE PRESIDENT Planning for the future hat an extremely interesting and busy year. There are a couple of new members of the Executive that With the change in government this could have and continue to work extremely hard for the GFAA. potentially mean a change in direction for Dr Evan Jones is in his second year as Conservation Officer W the future of gamefishing in Australia. The for GFAA. Evan has worked on the MPA process and is GFAA played a major role in opposing the lock out of vast also working on a port and infrastructure policy for us. The areas of Australian-controlled water, such as the Coral Sea. significant expansion in port development around Australia This whole process looks like being revisited during 2014 has its challenges. We need to understand the implications by the new government. The GFAA will continue to advise for fishing of coastal development, as well as ship movements all agencies, including all levels of government about the and anchoring. One area of concern is on the inshore areas of very low impact and the social and economical benefits of Queensland and the effect on small black marlin. gamefishing to the Australian community, both in state and Kevin Oates is our National Junior Tournament Commonwealth waters. We look forward to maintaining Coordinator and has joined our Executive team. Kevin access to our fishery and a has taken the event to a new fair and reasonable share of level with some fantastic the fisheries resources, and sponsorship and the new urge the relevant departments free online registration to continue their improved system that has made joining engagement with gamefishers even easier. The juniors are over the past year. really getting involved and The GFAA held their AGM catching and releasing some this year in Tasmania. It began great fish. Have a look at our with a day-long strategic website to see photos of the planning workshop attended kids receiving their monthly by the Executive of GFAA awards. They really are the and a number of delegates future of our sport. from across Australia. The One of our premier main aim of the plan is to events, The NSW Interclub give our members input into Tournament has made some the direction of the GFAA very exciting changes to the and a clear direction for the format. I am sure it will be Executive to follow. Some bigger and better than ever areas of interest that came before, so make sure you get out of the workshop were to Port Stephens and enjoy all to continue the research and of the events. development of our sport. I look forward to my second This research must become year as President of this more focused and driven by association, but our success our members to deal with also depends on our members. current issues and challenges We need as many interested within our sport. Effective communication was also an area anglers as possible to join one of our clubs, so make it your identified not only to our members but to the gamefishing job to get a friend to join. community in general. We as the peak body for gamefishing Please get involved, and keep up to date with all the in Australia need to fish to our code of practice and improve developments in our fishery by going to our website or like and encourage non-members to join our clubs and also fish to us on Facebook. our code. We are always interested in our affiliated anglers’ Enjoy your sport and have a safe and rewarding fishing year. views, so please let your clubs know ways we can better communicate to you. Regards There were some outstanding achievements during the year, with a large number of Australian records being broken and also a number of world records granted to GFAA-affiliated anglers. My congratulations to all new record holders. Please keep in mind the annual GFAA awards and trophies, which remain keenly contested. All the categories are listed inside this journal, so please ensure you get your Brett Cleary nominations in early. President GFAA Inc.