Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government knows that trout fishing is a way of life for thousands of Tasmanians and today many of those anglers will be casting a line to celebrate the start of the 2021-22 season.
The opening of every new trout season is keenly anticipated by anglers and strong winter rainfalls have ensured rising lake heights and strong river flows to create excellent fishing conditions.
Wild brown trout were first introduced to Tasmania in 1864 and the fishery is now regarded as one of the best in the world with around 24,000 licensed recreational anglers each year, generating an estimated $90 million for the economy.
The Government is delivering on its election commitments by waiving junior angling fees for the next four years and also freezing the price of adult licenses at the 2017-18 level.
By keeping license fees at a manageable levels and free for younger Tasmanians, we want encourage more people, an especially girls and boys and those with disability, to experience our magnificent trout fishery and to spend time in our beautiful outdoors.
Already about 20,000 trout have been transferred from the Central Highlands to regional dams and lakes to encourage participation and ensure suitable stock levels are available.
This includes transfers of 2800 trout to Four Springs Lake, 1200 to Penstock Lagoon and 1400 to Craigbourne Dam.
Also, to ensure best practice recreational fishery management, the Government has developed a Draft Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania's Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28.
The Draft Strategy allows for continued development of infrastructure, facilities and access to support the fishing experience, as well as supporting angling clubs to promote junior angling, encourage female participation and engage anglers in the stewardship of the state's inland fisheries and waterways.
The Draft Strategy is open for public consultation until midnight Friday 13 August 2021 and is on the IFS website: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/draft-strategy-to-increase-participation-in-tasmanias-inland-recreational-fishery
The coming 2021-22 trout season is shaping up as even better than last year and I encourage as many people as possible to buy a licence through their local tackle shop, Service Tasmania, or online from the IFS and enjoy the great trout fishing that Tasmania has to offer.
