At this year’s World Recreational Fishing Conference in Mpekweni, South Africa, climate challenges, fisher knowledge, and habitat restoration dominated the scientific agenda.
However, another message was clear to me, and it was echoed across presentations, and in conversations over coffee: women are reshaping the future of recreational fishing. And they’re doing it with grit, insight, and a collective commitment to healthier fish, stronger communities, and more inclusive fisheries worldwide.
Delegates clearly enjoyed the eleventh World Recreational Fishing Conference, held in South Africa in March 2026.
Inspiring global women
Women from around the world—researchers, managers, community leaders, citizen‑science innovators—brought depth, passion, and expertise to the 11th WRFC.
Two out of the three keynote speakers were women, Dr Judy Mann-Lang and Dr. Nelly Kadagi, a Kenyan fisheries expert whose journey into billfish science began more than 17 hours from the ocean.
Today, she is a global leader in her field—and an embodiment of the power of representation and persistence. Her story resonated with many, especially women navigating their own paths into fishing and marine science.
Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine at UK’s Angling Trust presented a range of case studies on their work, from managing the return of the Tuna fishery to key water quality projects led by recreational anglers in both freshwater rivers and saltwater estuaries.
Australia’s fisher women leading the way
On day four, I presented “10 years of lessons from growing the Aussie rec fisher stewardship movement” to a packed house.
I told them about our 9 000 OzFishers that turn up each year (many of whom are women!) to get hands on to restore over 219 waterways and make 1.69 million fish!
Despite a dedicated conference theme on gender diversity, it became clear that few countries outside Australia and Sweden are actively working to improve gender balance in fishing. Many nations either accept the status quo of a male‑dominated pastime and some always had or have already achieved balance.
Australia’s delegation stood out because Australia is one of the few countries truly investing in gender diversity in recreational fishing.
Australia’s delegation of 13 included 4 women from fishing peak bodies across the country.
Back home at OzFish, we have incredible women employees that make up 35%-40% of our employees, a female CEO (me!) and more women than men in our executive leadership team.
Being part of the Australian delegation at WRFC—and presenting on a global stage as a female leader in this space—was a reminder of how important representation truly is.
The author, Cassie Price, delivers her presentation at the World Recreational Fishing Conference, 2026.
The Australian Delegation.
“We’re not managing fish—we’re managing fishers.”
A sentiment repeated across sessions captured the spirit of the week: “We’re not managing fish—we’re managing fishers.” And managing fishers means understanding people. It means diversity. It means embracing new ideas from new voices and recognising that women bring fresh perspectives and different lived experiences that make fisheries stronger and more resilient.
Women in fishing are leading, shaping, and building global networks. We are mentoring each other, and we are creating new ways of caring for our waterways and fish.
And perhaps most importantly, we are showing young women and girls everywhere that fishing, and fish habitat restoration, is absolutely a place for them.
Cassie Price
CEO, OzFish Unlimited
Cassie Price is the CEO of OzFish. As a lifelong angler and habitat restoration expert, Cass brings over 25 years of experience working across Australia to restore wetlands, revive estuaries, and reinvigorate fish populations from the ground – and water – up.
Her experience spans inland wetlands, to acid sulfate swamps, to shellfish reefs. She has made it her business to be at the forefront of community-driven habitat projects that make a real, tangible difference to local fishing spots and the future of our fisheries. Cass has long-term experience in project management and operations in the not-for-profit sector across a range of NGOs, including Australian Rec Fishing Foundation, Landcare NSW, WetlandCare Australia, Australian Wetlands Alliance, and Conservation Volunteers Australia.
Her leadership at OzFish brings a passion for helping every Aussie fisher become a steward of their waterway – whether that’s through restoring seagrass, collecting citizen science, or rallying mates to plant riverbank trees.
