Scaremongering, says NPA

[Nete-Quette]

Scaremongering, says NPA
TONI BELL
18/03/2009 8:56:00 AM
THE National Parks Association has labelled as 'scaremongering' the series of public meetings now being held along the Mid North Coast in reaction to its calls for more marine parks.

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) this week asked the public to look at its facts on marine parks "rather than fall victim to agenda driven spin from the anti-marine park lobby".


The plea came at the same time hundreds of people were meeting at Laurieton on Monday night to hear ways they could fight the push for more parks, in particular one stretching from Crowdy Head to Lake Cathie.


Nicky Hammond, NPA's marine program manager, said she expected Monday night's meeting to be "similar to previous ECOfishers public meetings in delivering their highly biased opinions on NPA's proposal for long term protection of our oceans."


"We're urging locals to bear in mind the information delivered is simply the comments of anti-marine park lobbyists," she said.


"Our marine park proposals are based on solid science and the positive results seen for fishing, tourism and local communities in existing marine parks.


"At the end of the day, we all want to still enjoying fishing, swimming, boating and diving long into the future. Multiple use marine parks allow commercial and recreational fishing within their waters, but protect certain pockets of water as sanctuary zones to enable marine life to surge back to life."


She said the NSW and Queensland governments continued to see environmental, social and economic benefits from marine parks whilst the South Australian Government has recently announced 19 new marine parks for its state waters.


"It is clear that governments see marine parks as a key driver in protecting our oceans for the future," Ms Hammond continued.


"In NSW we are seeing the continuing decline of our marine life and this will impact our future ability to catch a decent fish, enjoy a seafood barbecue or enjoy snorkelling in our oceans.


"The NSW Government needs to continue to roll out a comprehensive network of marine parks for NSW, to not only protect our marine environment, but also to create valuable opportunities for tourism based jobs."


She urged those who want to learn more "to visit the NSW Marine Parks Authority website, take a read of NPA's 'The Torn Blue Fringe' or even conduct a simple google search of marine park studies or the rollout of marine parks across the globe."

[CEO]

     ECOfishers, the voice of NSW recreational fishers, representing NSW recreational fishing families, is scared says the NPA now. That is the only factual statement the NPA have made in relation to Labors marine parks. Of course we are scared! We have plenty to be scared about. Needless loss of our favourite fishing grounds, businesses going belly-up. People losing their jobs and being forced onto welfare. Yes, we all certainly have lots to be scared about! There is so much at stake!
     ECOfishers, with your support, is confident it will win this fight! Join now and become part of the solution. Don't be part of the problem! The main problem is apathy.