DATE: 2 December 2009

VRFish, the peak recreational fishing body representing all recreational fishers in Victoria, is pleased to release the results of economic research by Ernst & Young that quantifies the net benefit and economic contribution of recreational fishing to Victoria.

• What are the characteristics & level of recreational fishing in Victoria?
• What is the net benefit of recreational fishing on the Victorian economy?
• What does recreational fishing & its associated activities contribute to Victoria's economy?

VRFish Chairman, Geoff Cramer, stated "with an estimated 721,000 Victorians participating in recreational fishing in 2008/9 this puts recreational fishing as one of Victoria's most popular pastimes."
"The report also highlighted that in the same year the recreational fishing industry directly produced an estimated Gross State Product (GSP) of $825 million and employed 5,200 Victorians"

"The most significant figure is that Victoria's recreational fishers' activity generated direct expenditure of $2.3 billion for that year which was in a time of unprecedented economic pressures".
The report also brought focus on the significant regional component to the economic contribution of recreational fishing to Victoria:

Melbourne/Port Phillip region $228.8 million
Gippsland region $172.9 million
North East region $177.9 million
North West region $56.8 million
South West region $188.4 million

"The results of this study should provide Victoria's economic planners with a clear indication of just how significant are the contributions of Victoria's recreational fishers to the state's economy. Geoff concluded. "The report also found that participation rates are set to grow along with Victoria's population so the importance of maintaining a healthy fishery into the future can't be underestimated.

Media Contact: Christopher Collins 03 9686 7077 or 0409 104 710