ABOUT $160,000 will be taken from the community Fishwise Trust Fund and used to pay public servants, the government confirmed yesterday.
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It also happened last year in the wake of the global financial crisis.
Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing chief executive Mark Nikolai said the government had promised the transfer would be a one- off.
"Funds have still not been reinstated and the government refuses to provide an answer," he said.
The Fishwise Trust Fund was set up to fund research and community projects aimed at supporting recreational fishing in Tasmania.
About $1.2 million was set aside for the fund from the recreational marine fishing licences sold each year.
Mr Nikolai said without the money taken by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, he held "grave concerns" for important research and community projects across the state.
Department water and marine resources general manager Wes Ford said the fund served a number of purposes, including funding Mr Nikolai's organisation.
He also said the decision to transfer the money was made to protect recreational fishing services the department provided.
"The recreational fishing sector should not be immune to sharing some of the burden of reductions needed to ensure the state's budget targets are achieved," he said.
Mr Ford said in 2010-11 the salaries of the recreational fishing staff were paid for from the Fishwise Trust, amounting to 4.8 full-time equivalents.
"However, the overhead costs associated with those staff were paid by the department, amounting to a further investment of at least $400,000. In addition, the full costs of policing, and a component of core recreational fishing research, is funded by Tasmania Police and DPIPWE through its partnership with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies."