Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council (RFTAC)

The Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council (RFTAC) has been established to provide advice to the Minister for Agriculture on priorities for expenditure from the Recreational Fishing Trusts (RFT). The new Council will review and assess RFT funding applications and provide expenditure advice to the Minister.  All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Licence Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW. Each year, a wide range of projects receive funding from the Trusts

The Council includes members who bring expertise in areas such as financial management, project management, probity and governance, infrastructure and construction, fisheries science, and up to seven members with practical recreational fishing experience across freshwater and saltwater environments.

By bringing together recreational fishers and professionals with diverse skills and on-water experience, the Council helps ensure that Trust funding is invested in projects that deliver real benefits to the recreational fishing community.

The function of the RFTAC is to:

1. Review and assess grant funding applications from the Saltwater and Freshwater RFT Funds against relevant assessment and administrative criteria.
2. Provide funding recommendations to the Minister following assessment of funding applications.
3. Receive periodic updates from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) on status of external and DPIRD Trust projects.
4. Provide advice to the Minister on any other relevant RFT issues referred to it by the Minister or the Deputy Secretary Fisheries and Forestry.
5. Meet at least once per year with the Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council (RFNSW) to confirm broad priority areas for RFT expenditure.