MARINE PARKS DISCUSSION - ABC COUNTRY HOUR 12 to 1pm.

[CEO]

    The Country Hour also rang ECOfishers last Thursday and recorded an interview with our CEO. They also spoke with other ECOfishers representatives from around the state, gathering comments on Labors marine parks. So they have plenty of material, all of which is most suitable for putting to air. Maybe some senior executive or more senior producer has intervened? Booth didn't get his gallop either. Maybe they see that as "balance?"

[CEO]

..........or archival material! Our Coffs Harbour ECOfisher representative (SIMP) was also told by the Country Hour they would get back to him. He still hasn't heard anything.

[CEO]

COUNTRY HOUR MARINE PARK DEBATE: 15/4/09
 The promised debate took place today on the ABC. Dr Russell Babcock represented the scientists.. We all remember Babcock from the work he published from the Leigh Marine Reserve on the north island of NZ, many years ago now. You  remember the paper and place. It's where they feed the fish daily, for the tourists and it is only a tiny marine reserve. Babcock claimed a ten (10) fold increase in snapper stocks in only two or three years. Why wouldn't there be when they are fed every day and no one is allowed to harvest them! Fish aren't entirely stupid! Have a look at any fish feeding area anywhere in the world and fish will be there en masse at tucker time. There's no science in that! And that's why fishers use berley!
  John Harrison represented the Clarence River Professional Fishermens' Association. He correctly claimed there was little data to support the claim that NSW government marine parks actually work. Babcock claimed supporting international literature demonstrated marine parks worked as a conservation tool. Conservation of what he didn't say but definitely not migratory species of fish! Harrison claimed the loss of 60 to 70 % of the state's wetlands was the real problem and that issue needed to be addressed, before locking fishers out. Babcock agreed but emphasised we needed a holistic approach and marine sanctuaries were just one small part of the overall plan.
Enter Prof David Booth who is a vigorous supporter of NSW marine parks. Marine parks are about taking precautions he says, precautions from overfishing! So they are required. He cited examples from Maria Is, Tasmania and mud crab populations from Moreton Bay (Qld) He didn't dare mention the colony of Trumpeter they almost lost in Tasmania because of a very poorly designed marine sanctuary, or the abalone population in Souh Australia that became extinct from one particular area, because of very poor sanctuary zone design! Nor did he mention the fact that the last 14 Tasmanian marine parks announced, don't exclude recreational fishing because there is no impact. Oh no. He is a strong supporter of the Precautionary Principle, and bases his preservation on that theory/philosphy. And then he has the hide to suggest NSW recreational fishers should fund his "precautionary" research! The ECOfishers staff shouted similtaneously, that famous line from the film "The Castle," Tell  him he's gotta be dreaming!
 Babcock claims overseas marine parks are working for "conservation," of what he didn't say, nor did he refer to NSW marine parks. Oranges and lemons argument again! But he dropped this little gem, unintentionally, we are sure, "fish populations are not affected by the smaller scale of marine park areas." SO WHY ARE WE LOCKED OUT?
TALKBACK CALLERS: A series of callers were then able to put their point of view. Graham Turk of the Sydney Fish Market, said the public are being hoodwinked about the benefits of marine parks. Peter from the Hunter Valley,  wants wetlands integrated with and into marine parks. A greenie from Batemans Bay who quoted global info, (oranges and lemons again) and claimed rec fishers were coming to the realization that marine parks were wonderful initiatives - to which the presenter replied "we wish just one would ring in, because we haven't heard of any!" Dr Phil from Narooma spoke briefly of the adverse effects of agriculture on the Batemans park. Then Malcolm Poole was taken to task by the presenter and really challenged. Malcolm sounded uncomfortable, and  even said, "the rubbish we tip into the water every day, from our boating activities causes problems." Now that wasn't very helpful Malcolm. That really gives the recreational fishers you represent a bad name. Thankfully he wasn't refering to ECOfishers because our CEO summarised the whole debate and brought it right back to what it was supposed to be about - the science! He concluded by asking the question," Why ban fishing when there is no scientific evidence to demonstrate any negative impacts fom family recreational fishing?"  And that's where it concluded.
   Someone, somewhere, may be able to put a link up to the ABC Country Hour so we can all hear the whole debate. For this is just a summary of some of the salient points we noted.

[CEO]

PROF KEARNEY'S CONTRIBUTION: The metropolitan based RFA sought advice and assistance from Prof Kearney for the ABC Country Hour interview. Good on them, if they don't have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the issue themselves. Professor Kearney dutifully supplied Malcolm Poole with the following data to help him. Now the question everyone is asking, is why didn't Malcolm use it? Stick to the script Malcolm. Then you won't make embarrassing "faux pas!" Kearney's information is perfect and addresses the issue magnificently. What a pity it didn't get an airing!

[Nete-Quette]

Here is a link to the NSW Country Hour Archive

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nsw/index/archive.htm

I didnt have time to go through all the shows but beleive the one you want is located : http://www.abc.net.au/rural/countryhour/country_wed_28.ram
Its in real media format so you will need a copy of real player to listen. Real player is available for free http://www.real.com/

I am awaiting an MP3 version that is currently on its way to me and I will post that version on the site as soon as I get it for those who would rather wait.

[CEO]

 My comments re Malcolm Poole were not meant to embarrass him personally. They are meant as an expression of disappointment at what was recorded and at a golden opportunity missed, with negative comments about the rubbish from our boats we tip into the water every day. He needs to learn from his mistakes, especially when dealing with the media. Inexperience can be costly. And has been in this case. ECOfishers don't tip their rubbish from their boats into the water - ever. Rocky.

[Nete-Quette]

Our thanks to Malcolm Poole. The MP3 version is now available for download.
Right click the following link and choose save target as:


http://www.ecofishers.com/media/Country-Hour-MPA-discussion15-04-09.mp3

[CEO]

At a meeting of fishers and the odd preservationist, in Ballina last Thursday evening, the Country Hour issue was raised as, "recreational fishers are now dumping their plastic bait bags and old fishing line out of their boats, into our marine environment. We heard it on the ABC!": (Quote preservationist)
  Our CEO, who was at the meeting representing the regions recreational fishing organizations, was livid. His explanation resulted in one well know greenie leaving the meeting immediately, in a green dummy spit, with his ears fiery red. Don't lie to our CEO about recreational fishers, especially ECOfishers! And don't lie about what is on the ABC. It is all on the public record, for verifying! Green grubs, was heard among the mutterings.

[CEO]

"The marine parks in NSW are not marine protected areas and no amount of misuse of information from other parts of the world on the benefits of marine protected areas, or of fishing closures in areas where fisheries management has been non-existent or has abjectly failed, will make them so." Prof. Bob Kearney.
  On that basis, it is difficult to understand why anyone, (representing a group of recreational fishers,) without any scientific qualifications, would claim that parts of NSW marine parks are good? Good for what? And which part or parts? KT

[Dr. Phil]

Greetings All

I have lisetened carefully to the Country Hour tape and I STRONGLY berlieve that Malcolm Poole has been unfairly maligned. 

The implication that "the rubbish that we spill into the sea from boating activities" was, in fact, NOT FROM recreational boating, as has been claimed by some from Ecofishers, but ships spilling ballast and oil etc.  I thought so when I heard it live and I have reinforced it when i hear the MP3 tape.

Claughton's presentation of the MP issue on ABC Counrtry Hour was a biassed disgrace, so typical of the rubbish that we get from the ABC down here, as well, on ABC South East.   

We have far bigger fish to fry, in the Marine Park debate, other than each other!!!!!!!!!

[CEO]

We all hope that is the case Dr Phil. And Malcolm always has the opportunity to explain what he actually meant by his comment. We don't intend to malign anyone (greenies excepted, perhaps?) but his limited time on behalf of RFA recreational fishers, could have been better used, in my view. So now let's all focus on the real fish, in this marine park debate and may the "frying," continue unabated, until we derive a UNIFIED, just and fair outcome for all NSW recreational fishing families. ECOfishers is continuing to supply the fuel and fan the flames. We won't let this issue die. Rocky.

[Malcolm Poole]

Phil, thanks for the support I have been attempting to resolve the issues with the CEO's outside the public forum, that too is time consuming, due to the lack of Ecofisher Executive contact details, I am hoping it can be fixed, as we all want.

As you note and I agree, the comment was taken out of context by 'CEO Rocky' and he continues to dress down others in the open forum, I suppose he sees it as he is right and we are wrong, not very democratic, maybe Rocky should go on air next time, or maybe he has, do we know who he really is?

We all use, and abuse our waters (waterways), out of sight - out of mind, they are a dumping grounds in one way or another, Ken's term was pollution, or maybe it should be classified as 'waterways pollution'. This is a real big issue which the green groups down play, don't mention or address; from lawn fertisler to clippings and leaves, hard stand and storm run off with trash, silt, cigarette butts and the plastic bag/bottle, to the humble but deadly farm drain or sewage treatment plant and raw sewage overflows.

The greens see the best fit being Marine Parks and 'lock out zones' the same as we have in National Parks.  Their preference is have an annual drain on the state budget employing green supporters (user pays is bound to catch up soon), to spending mega $'s until we right as many wrongs in our waterways.

As for the issue of boating pollution, it encompasses many issues, to many to list here, but we have just seen Australia's biggest commercial oil spill (your point, maybe Rocky missed that!), the issue of 2 verses 4 stroke outboards and emissions has been tried in SIMP area but sits in waiting, bilge water from all boats and ships (it introduces pest species), boat anti fouling forms toxins in sediment and maybe linked to seagrass and its demise, increasing number of - and impacts of boat moorings etc, are just some of the many others issues which carry concerns.

Ken Thurlow (Ecofishers CEO) came through as the last person in the days debate, summing up the issues or positions of participants, then re stating the main point, "that fishing, be it recreational or commercial is the not the problem".

I'll leave it at that, as you can seen Phil, RFANSW are always willing to help out in the fight. The public have been mislead over many years through green and animal group mythology. Fishers are slightly behind, Fishers can make the difference if the action plan, resources and support funding is right!

[ACTAngler]

I suggest each member posting as "CEO" should get their own user ID.  Then there would be no confusion as to who's voice was coming out of the puppet's mouth when the lips were moving.

[row]

We all make mistakes at some point, we need to get over clashing executives horns and get on with the job, with big responsibilities come big egos, the biggest threat to rec fishers right now is the bickering going on at this most important time in the development of a united front against those who would have us all never wet a line again, the biggest advantage the anti fishing brigade have right now is exactly the same thing, If we cannot get it right now then you might as well put your head between your creels and kiss your cast goodbye, I believe that this is our last chance to win against the extreme preservationists demands.
No-one is perfect and if some bloke that I don't like is the best bloke for the job and is getting the runs on the board, then I will back him over the nice bloke who gets sweet fa response in the areas which matter, not rocket science, simple politics, we've got millions of supporters, they've got in the low thousands, yet they win, why do they laud it over us, why do we pay for them to tell us what to do, WHY?

[CEO]

You nailed it again, Row. Disunity! While ever fishers fight among themselves, the greens are laughing all the way to their minister. And winning. ECOfishers UNITY SUMMIT is designed to address this very issue. Address it we shall and arrive at a UNIFIED outcome. We are at the crossroads of determining our future, as a powerful group. Take the right turn asnd we are in like Flynn. Take the wrong turn, and head for more years of poor representation and fisher oblivion! The resources are there. The personell are there. The desperate need is there. The will is there. The determination is there. The issues are there. That's why ECOfishers has been asked to make it a reality. And with half a modicum of co-operation, from the nay sayers, we will make it happen. We will make it happen anyway! And happen it will!. And Rocky is media trained. He has worked in the media and is a big help to ECOfishers. Thanks, Rocky. KT