MANAGEMENT OF MARINE PARKS. 3/5/09.

[CEO]

Why shouldn't recreational and  commercial fishers, together with  the community, be involved in managing NSW government marine parks?

[Malcolm Poole]

CEO

I totally agree, one seafood resource, one combined user group, Marine Parks do affect them too, as well as the community that acquire what local or fresh seafood where ever and when ever it is available to them to purchase.

I hope there are a few commercial fishers at the unity meeting?

[CEO]

Why on earth would commercial fishers be invited to a RECREATIONAL fishers UNITY SUMMIT? ECOfishers doesn't represent NSW commercial fishers! We represent NSW recreational fishers!  And they support ECOfishers. Representatives of NSW recreational fishers have availed themselves of this opportunity to develop a unified policy, for NSW recreational fishers. Once that is established (unified,) it then will  be shared with other stakeholder groups, bureaucrats, government departments, politicians and the community etc. That's what NSW recreational fishers asked for. That's the sequence and procedures they want. That's what ECOfishers will deliver! We get our own house in order, before we share it with others.  Cart before the horse issue again, Malcolm!  You need to understand that. Remember the advice I gave you via email? Read it again mate. It still applies.
  One of the issues that constantly arises from recreational fishers right around the state and is expressed to ECOfishers, is that the fishing community, both commercial and recreational, have no "ownership," of government marine parks. And why would they under the current regime of management. The most successful marine protected areas in the world are those that the local communities actively manage. For if they fail to recognise a problem, they certainly won't be supporting any imposed solution! But as we have already been advised, that won't be happening under the present government. They prefer terrestrial ecologists to locals with vast local knowledge,, to manage their marine parks!
  So, how can we involve the recreational and commercial fishers, together with the community, to better manage NSW marine parks? After all, fishers are the major users of the resources - plural.

[clive]

CEO

I totally agree, one seafood resource, one combined user group, Marine Parks do affect them too, as well as the community that acquire what local or fresh seafood where ever and when ever it is available to them to purchase.

I hope there are a few commercial fishers at the unity meeting?

I'm afraid there are often stark differences in the needs of Rec. and commercial fishers. It's like truckies and cyclists trying to agree on what is the best type of road system to build. The rec and commercial fishers could not agree on the Cape Byron Marine Park Advisory Committee and eventually fell out, I can't see agreement happening on a wider scale. the MPA feed off this and set the groups against each other.

Clive

[CEO]

So, how can we involve recreational and commercial fishers with the community, Clive, to better manage NSW government marine parks? Rocky.