The Futurefish Foundation
Originally known as the Rex Hunt Futurefish foundation, we were established in 1999 as a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to protecting and enhancing recreational fishing in Victoria through events and projects which provide opportunities and grow participation in recreational fishing for all Victorians, Interstate and International visitors.
The Futurefish foundation is also on the Register of Environmental Organisations (REO) with the Australian Governments Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This allows Futurefish foundation to be endorsed as Deductable Gift Recipients by the Australian Taxation Office. Deductable Gift Recipient status means donations made to Futurefish Foundation will be tax deductable for the donor.
As a lobby group, Futurefish Foundation has successfully driven the cessation of scallop dredging in Port Phillip Bay, the buyout of commercial netting licences in Mallacoota Inlet, Lake Tyers and Andersons Inlet and had these three estuaries declared Recreational Fishery Reserves under the provisions of section 88 of the Fisheries Act 1995. These three estuaries are now prime recreational fisheries containing trophy size fish enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of anglers each year. With the support of Futurefish Foundation, changes in law now protect the big breeders of the species dusky flathead which inhabit these estuaries and provide world class fishing.
Protecting and enhancing recreational fishing in Victoria through events and projects which provide opportunities and grow participation in recreational fishing.
Closer to Melbourne, Futurefish led the way in convincing the Victorian Government to ban the practice of commercial netting in Western Port, Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes. While supporting the increase in Aquaculture Reserves and maintaining commercial long line fishing in Port Phillip Bay, Futurefish Foundation is content with the balance of fishing opportunities for both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors in the bay. Futurefish Foundation will continue to work with the Victorian Government on all matters related to recreational & commercial fishing in Victoria.
Futurefish Foundation are proud supporters of the VFA’s Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating (WIRFAB) network and hold positions in advisory committee’s such as Corner Inlet Fishery Management Advisory Committee (CIFMAC) and the Recreational Fishing Leaders Forum (RFLF).