Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has announced applications are open for Recreational Fishing Trust grants across the State.

Following a record number of grants funded in the last round, the NSW Government is now calling on applications for projects to commence in 2022 to improve and promote recreational fishing in local areas.

“This is your licence fees at work, so if you’ve got an idea then please get your application in and take advantage of this available funding,” Mr Marshall said.

“This can include projects for enhancing recreational fishing, new fishing facilities and access to local fishing spots, education including fishing workshops, as well as essential recreational fishing research.

“These fantastic projects will bolster the recreational fishing industry, which already does so much for the state, including pumping $3.4 billion into our economy each year.”

Applications are open via NSW Department of Primary Industries until Friday, 3 December.

Grants are available for both large projects valued at more than $10,000 in funding and small projects involving less than $10,000. Joint saltwater and freshwater projects are also encouraged.

“Each year we put out the call for applications and every year we see unique, positive projects and I expect this year to be no different,” Mr Marshall said.

“In the last funding round, more than $17 million was distributed across the State to be invested in fishing projects, including for fish aggregating devices, fish stockings, offshore artificial reefs, habitat restoration projects, as well as education programs.

“Fishing is one of our State’s favourite pastimes, with more than one million anglers taking to our waterways annually, so thank you to each and every one of them for contributing to the growth of the recreational fishing industry.”

Funding guidelines and application forms for the next round of the Recreational Fishing Trusts grants are available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.