Recfish Australia is proud to announce the live release of the interactive website www.neatfish.com where organisers of fishing tournaments can complete the NEATFish environmental standard online.  NEATFish (National Environmental Assessment of Tournament Fishing) is the world’s first environmental standard designed specifically for fishing tournaments.  NEATFish is a voluntary industry standard developed by the recreational fishing industry for the industry. 

The NEATFish Standard uses a questionnaire which measures a tournament’s environmental, social and economic performance and rates them using a 1 to 5 star rating system.  The Standard and website were both developed by Recfish Australia with funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation after consultation with fishing tournament organisers, government authorities, environmental groups, accreditation bodies, insurers and representatives of the fishing tackle industry.

Len Olyott, CEO of Recfish Australia, says the long awaited release of the website will improve the accessibility of the standard and make the process of certification of fishing tournaments under the NEATFish standard simple and user friendly.  “The best thing about the www.neatfish.com website is that online membership is free of charge and provides all tournament organisers with the necessary tools to undertake a NEATFish assessment.  Full accreditation under the standard can be achieved in 5 easy steps.  Once the organiser has completed the free initial assessment, they know how their tournament rates and can then choose to apply for official recognition of their rating by submitting their results for approval.  Tournaments approved under the standard obtain an official NEATFish Certificate after paying an annual registration fee ($95.00+ GST), after which they are publicly listed on the website with other approved tournaments.

Tournaments which undertake the NEATFish process are better able to demonstrate their environmental, social and economic credentials to the wider community.  Organisers who run NEATFish accredited tournaments report that they are better placed when dealing with government authorities, media and environmental groups on a range of issues related to their tournament activities.  Discounts on public liability insurance are also available for accredited tournament organisers.  The www.neatfish.com website also provides opportunities for sponsors to contact organisers of accredited tournaments, and vice versa, to develop relationships that are beneficial to both parties. 

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Media Enquiries to:

Recfish Australia: Len Olyott   0427073356  or  Bruce Schumacher   0418499322

Neatfish.com website, contact    info@neatfish.com,   or phone 07 3408 8443