The Akaroa Harbour Recreational Fishing Club (Inc), (AHRFC) has been very active in becoming a part of a proposed South Island marine recreational fishing representative organisation. Two members from the club have joined the South Island group. A Peak Body two day workshop was held on the weekend of 16-17 March to represent all South Island fishers. 

Our elected representatives, Jim Crossland and Barbara Reay attended to discuss how best to form and fund this organisation, where Jim Crossland agreed to be Chair of the South Island group, currently now known as Fish Mainland.

see following comments from the two AHRFC members from the Media Release - 7 April 2019

Jim Crossland, Chair of the South Island group, says “The management of New Zealand’s recreational fisheries has been increasingly contentious. As a group, we have been exploring some practical ways to bring about improvements. Recently, we drafted a proposed organisation to represent South Island recreational fishing interests, which we consider will be a sound basis for bringing about improvements now and in the future.”

“Several South Island fishing clubs have already recognised the need for collective representation. They realise that if joined together, they can accomplish a lot more than if they continue to work individually or in small groups. It is critical that the name of the new organisation reflects our collective outlook. We propose ‘Fish Mainland’ as a suitable name,” says Barbara Reay.

See Media Release on our news page