The future of recreational fishing was discussed at a public meeting in Dunedin last night.
New Zealand Initiative research fellow Dr Randall Bess, of Wellington, spoke to about 30 people - mostly recreational fishers - at Tautuku Fishing Club in Ocean Grove.
The initiative is designed to conduct research in New Zealand and Western Australia to find better ways of preserving and managing fish stocks and improving the recreational fishing experience for New Zealanders.
Draft recommendations for fisheries reform were released on August 1. Since the release, 12 meetings are being held across New Zealand so recreational fishers can provide feedback.
The initiative was funded by late businessman and ''passionate recreational fisher'' Sir Douglas Myers.
The meetings have produced a call for ''a single, strong and unified voice'' to communicate the thoughts of recreational fishers to the Ministry of Primary Industries and the commercial sector.
Club president Brett Bensemann said the meeting went ''extremely well and was fantastic''.
