Labor-Green deal = more 'no take' marine parks

[row]

SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK


Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry



M E D I A  R E L E A S E



20 July 2010


Labor-Green deal = more 'no take' marine parks

?       A vote for the Greens OR Labor is a vote for more no-take marine parks

?       Greens want 30% of Australian waters to be 'no-take' zones


Yesterday's announcement of a back-room preference deal between Labor and the Greens has major detrimental consequences for Australia's recreational and commercial fishers.

Federal Coalition spokesperson for fisheries Senator Richard Colbeck said the Labor-Greens deal could only lead to more 'no-take' marine parks being introduced in Australia's fishing zones.

"Preferences do not come for free and 'no-take' marine parks will be part of the cost," Senator Colbeck said.

"Any small amount of care Labor had for our fishing industry is now completely flushed away.

"The Greens and their emphatic supporters such as the environmental fringe group the Pew Foundation are well-known supporters of locking up marine areas.  No one should be fooled - they will demand, as part of any deal, massive new no take zones."

The Australian Greens Marine and Coastal Areas policy is to legislate "targets of a minimum of 30% ?no take? areas per bioregion by 2012."

"That is a completely irresponsible policy devoid of any scientific assessment.

"This policy would wipe out massive portions of Australia's commercial fishing fleet and reduce the recreational fishing sector to an expensive and exclusive hobby.

"Thousands of businesses reliant on the fishing industry would also be massively disadvantaged.

"And Labor has effectively signed up to this agenda with their preference deal with the Greens. Preferences do not come for free.

"The only way Australia's fishers can avoid such disaster is to put Labor and the Greens last when they vote at the next election."

[truefisher]

 What is worse than first thought is , that according to The Greens policy it states "ensure that the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas program has legislated targets of a minimum of 30% ?no take? areas per bioregion by 2012 . Now that is not a marine park with 30% sanctuary zone it is 30% of the entire bio-region.  Is that the policy adopted by Labor for the green preferences. Let us hope they get their behinds well and truly kicked. Unfortunately I do not think it will happen as the media are like ostriches with their heads deeply buried in the sand.