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RECREATIONAL FISHERS CHART THEIR OWN FUTURE BY MIRANDA O'CONNELL, FUTURE SEARCH PROJECT MANAGER A fter years of battling to be heard in the increasingly complex fisheries management processes in Wellington, and indeed battling amongst themselves, some in the recreational fishing sector have decided that enough is enough. The wholly volunteer advocacy model they are running is not working and is increasingly unfit to take recreational fishers into an abundant and sustainable future. It is time to chart a new and different future for recreational fishing that has a strong, coordinated sector that adds value to fisheries management. This will bring certainty to other fisheries stakeholders and to the overall job of managing for sustainable fisheries. The nature of the recreational sector in New Zealand makes this journey a challenge, for even calling recreational fishers a sector is a stretch that implies some sort of common ground. In reality New Zealand has approximately one million recreational fishers who are heterogenous, that is, they are all different. Fishers in New Zealand are variously young, old, male, female, all ethnicities you can imagine, rich, poor and everything in between. This mixed bag of people, which probably includes you reading this article, are also largely not engaged with any structured recreational fishing body. Various estimates have just three to five percent of fishers engaged in bodies like fishing clubs or advocacy organisations. The question then becomes how to connect with the large majority of fishers to identify their preferred vision. What tool can be used to run a courageous national conversation? The NZ Recreational Fishing Council, supported by other recreational fishing organisations, advocates, retailers, manufacturers, and media, have chosen a tool called Future Search. Future Search is a strategic planning process used world wide in diverse cultures to achieve shared goals and fast action. Future Search brings together representatives from all parts of the system and enables them to find common ground and agree on actions for the future. The issues facing recreational fishing in New Zealand are characterised by diverse interests, and complex and conflicting ideas and passionate beliefs. The Future Search methodology is designed for diverse groups, complex situations, and questions with no easy answers. Key design points of Future Search are the focus on multiple stakeholders, on reaching common ground, and on supporting participant responsibility to agree and carry out follow up actions. Future Search has been successful on a wide variety of issues in a range of countries, communities, industries and cultures. The following quotes give an insight as to the usefulness of the Future Search method and offer reflection on its application to issues of recreational fishing in New Zealand. "People take responsibility for their future," says Aideen McGinley, permanent secretary, Northern Ireland. "One Future Search often obviates the need for many other meetings because of the deep alignment that emerges," says Rolf Carriere, UNICEF representative at Future Searches in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Barry Childs, founder of an NGO in Tanzania explains their July/August 2012 Professional Skipper 29 decision to use Future Search: "We investigated scenario planning that had been used in South Africa. It was expensive and elegant, a wonderful process, but it just gets the grand poobahs together. I wanted to involve more people who were actually impacted. I found Future Search so simple and engaging, even for kids." "We were attracted to the idea that Future Search could bring together very diverse people and create conditions for dialogue," says Dave Whitwam, corporate CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, in Michigan USA. After nine Future Searches in Berrien County, he had this to say: "Future Search enabled us to act in a positive, transformative way. So we're in a good place today. I don't say we're done. I like to say we're at the end of the beginning." The aim of Future Search is to create open discussion and dialogue amongst fishers who are fearful of working together to effect change The NZRFC and others believe that a courageous national conversation on the future of recreational fishing in New Zealand does need to take place. Future Search is fit for purpose to make that conversation happen in a way that is open, democratic, and leads to action. The aim is to run the Future Search strategic planning process on recreational fishing in New Zealand in February 2013 in sunny Nelson, home to many fishers and diverse fisheries resources. The commercial seafood industry will play a part in this Future Search along with scientists, environmental interests, regional and national Government and the many faces of recreational fishing from all FMAs in New Zealand. More information on the Future Search project can be found on www.recfish.co.nz Fundraising to ensure the Future Search project is run successfully is following a crowdfunding approach. Donations are therefore welcome online or by contacting NZRFC, email miranda@folkus.co.nz. VIP.S48