From July 1, Victoria’s hunters and fishers will formally come together under a new umbrella entity: Outdoor Recreation Victoria.
In the latest SSAA Victoria Podcast, the boys sit down with Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling to unpack what this major structural change means for recreational hunting, fishing and the broader outdoor recreation sector.
The conversation explores the merger of the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and the Game Management Authority (GMA), and why many of the issues facing hunters and fishers are already deeply connected.
From public land access and social licence through to sustainability, science-based management and regional economic benefits, both communities face many of the same challenges — and opportunities.
The episode also looks at why hunting and fishing are “natural brothers and sisters” and how bringing the sectors closer together could create stronger advocacy, better policy outcomes and greater recognition of outdoor recreation within government.
Importantly, the discussion does not shy away from the stakes involved. The success of Outdoor Recreation Victoria will depend on maintaining specialist expertise, engaging constructively with stakeholders and ensuring that hunting and fishing continue to have a strong and credible voice inside government.
The podcast also touches on broader themes around conservation, participation, access and the future of sustainable use in Victoria.
For anyone interested in the future of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in Victoria, this is a conversation well worth listening to.
