Coalition govt would freeze marine parks

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Coalition govt would freeze marine parks
Updated: 13:20, Tuesday July 27, 2010
 
A coalition government would freeze the gazetting of new marine parks around the country, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has announced.
Mr Abbott made the announcement while campaigning in the central Queensland coastal city of Mackay - where he filleted a giant barramundi at the local fishworks - on Tuesday.
The federal government's process of planning for new parks would be put on hold, and the whole process restructured, he said.
'Man and nature have to live together,' Mr Abbott told reporters.
'It's very important that we don't do anything as a government that unreasonably threatens the livelihood of fishing industries and the tourism industries upon which so much of Australia depends.'
Mr Abbott acknowledged the process of gazetting new marine parks had started under the previous Howard government.
But the process now needed more consultation built into it than existed currently under Labor.
Marine protection areas prohibit various activities in order to protect the environment and some of them have 'no-take zones' for fishing.
Copyright Australian News Channel Pty Ltd - ABN 28068954478

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/27/2965608.htm

[CEO]

One industry leaderof substantial wit, has alreadysuggested this announcement ought be dubbed, "Gillard - gilled & gutted!" And another suggests "The Red Herring - gilled, gutted & roed."

[CEO]

  The entire Coalition policy is posted on this website here abouts. It is simple, common sense, scientific, brief and to the point and worth reading. It is very much worthy of your attention. And don't hesitate to ask any political wanna be for a copy of their marine park and recreational fishing policy. Then share it with us all.

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UPPER HOUSE INQUIRY - REPORT INTO RECREATIONAL FISHING IN NSW.
Here it is. The Report which was supposed to be handed down in November was finally handed down to the Parliament on Friday 10th December 2010. The delay was caused by vigorous debate among the political members of the Committee, who couldn't agree about some key issues, so the Report reflects "party political lines." In that sense, it is a bit of a white wsh of the true situation. Those of you who followed the evidence closely at the public hearings, will be disappointed, for it barely reflects the constant negative, scientific, social and economic data and evidence, ( in relation to Labor/Green marine parks) presented by recreational fishers from throughout NSW.
 As most pundits are saying, "What else would you expect with a Committee dominated by Labor/Greens? They're not gong to be critical of themselves! That doesn't happen in Labor/Green circles!" 

[CEO]

ABC RADIO INTERVIEWS ECOFISHERS ABOUT REPORT INTO RECREATIONAL FISHING.
  An overview on the Report, will be given by ECOfishers on ABC's Rural Report by Miranda Saunders at 6:40 am on the morning of Tuesday 14th December and highlights on the Country Hour, at 12 noon, on Tuesday, ABC Regional Radio, right across NSW.

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MEDIA FRENZY - ECOFISHERS.
 Boy, ECOfishers certainly have created a media frenzy with our responses to the Report into NSW Recreational Fishing! It has been an absolute media blitz! TV channels and commercial radio stations have got the community fired up - and the silent majority are coming out of the woodwork in droves  again, in favour and support of ECOfishers long standing scientific views on Labor/Greens marine parks. The coastal talk back shows are full of it! What massive support for ECOfishers.
  And even olde Aunty (Lefty ABC,) is doing a radio interview  panel, on this very subject tomorrow morning at 8:35 am. This is another of our ABC's responses to an article from ECOfishers, which appeared in the Coffs COast Advocate (14.12.10)
  It's great to hear so much support and from scientists too, for your ECOfishers organization. Predictibly, the greenies are squirming!
  One of the quotes your CEO dropped in response to a question from an ABC journalist yesterday, when she said, "The greens are commenting that because of ECOfishers highjacking and politicising this debate, it will be disastrous for marine protection.  How does ECOfishers respond to that?"
 The reply was instantaneous, cool, calm and collected, "ECOfishers response is, that misinformed comment is cheap. Facts are priceless!"
 To which the inerviewer replied, Thank you Ken Thurlow. And with that, we will leave it there. That was Ken Thurlow Chief Executive officer of the conservation/lobby group, ECOfishers, the voice of NSW recreational fishers." 

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[Nete-Quette]

One of ECOfishers South Coast Directors, Rod Burston, gets another gallop in the Australian. Read on

Move to strip minister's fishing powers corners independents
?   Sid Maher and Graham Lloyd
?   From: The Australian
?   February 23, 2011 12:00AM
Tony Abbott will move to strip Environment Minister Tony Burke of his power to restrict fishing in marine parks in a move that will force the rural independents to declare their hands and ignite a political row over planned new fishing sanctuaries.
Opposition cabinet approved the move on Monday as Mr Burke told the Labor Party caucus yesterday that he was still some weeks away from finalising draft boundaries in the first area to be examined, which stretches from Kangaroo Island off the South Australian coast to the Abrolhos Islands north of Perth.

Mr Burke has spent months consulting on the issue, which risks wedging the government.
Several Coalition MPs credit a campaign -- led by Nationals senator Ron Boswell -- against the proposed marine park system with swinging support to them, while environmental groups are becoming increasingly concerned that the government will baulk on the election promise.

Wilderness Society national campaign director Lyndon Schneiders said the Gillard government risked failing its first big environmental test. He said prospective oil and gas exploration areas had been left out of the marine reserve zones and insufficient compensation had been provided to adequately reduce recreational fishing.

Mr Schneiders said the Gillard government was now proposing a "lose-lose" outcome for the environment and fishing industry.
Labor's proposed South West plan represented no progress on the much criticised southeast regional marine plan introduced by the Howard government, he said.

Environment groups had hoped the South West plan would be a benchmark for marine planning in commonwealth waters.
But Mr Schneiders said environment groups, which estimate the plan would cost $50 million, were now being told the election promise had not been funded. "If the government is not going to compensate the fishing industry for reduced effort, the issue is not going anywhere," he said.
The opposition action, in a private member's bill to be brought in the Senate by Tasmanian Liberal Richard Colbeck, will seek to force Mr Burke to have the declaration of a marine reserve approved by a vote of parliament, which would give MPs a veto over any no-take zones.

It will seek to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which gives Mr Burke sole authority to make a reserve declaration. The move would put the acid on rural independents -- particularly Rob Oakeshott, whose seat of Lynne takes in the coastal Port Macquarie district in NSW.
After being handed the environment portfolio by Julia Gillard, Mr Burke moved to take the heat out of the issue.
Senator Boswell said the current laws gave Mr Burke too much power. "We now have the circumstance where the minister, advised by officials in the Environment Department, can make permanent decisions about activities in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone," he said.
But Mr Burke said the Coalition was now trying to overturn a law enacted by the Howard government. "The marine planning process was initiated in 1998 by the Howard government, it now falls under the EPBC Act, which was also introduced by the Howard government," he said.

[CEO]

   Yes Rod, we all agree wholeheartedly! Remember that Recfish meeting we attended in Brisbane some (may) years ago now and recreational fishers representatives, (ECOfishers) weren't allowed to raise the marine park issue? What a sloppy bunch of Labor supporters they were/are. Not in touch with grass roots fishers or reality at all. Schumacher and Co and his lap dog cronies. Anyway the rules are about to change - on March 26th.Bring it on big time!

[Spiney]

Steve Smith states he wants an objective review but then in the very next line reveals his bias.


North coast scientist questions moratorium on new marine parks
Posted Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:21pm AEST

MAP: Coffs Harbour 2450
North coast marine scientists say the state government's support for Bill that stops any new marine parks for five years, is a sign of its anti-conservation approach.

The government signalled support yesterday for Shooters and Fishers Party legislation which calls for a moratorium on new parks and sanctuary zones.

Associate Professor Steve Smith from the Coffs Harbour based National Marine Science centre says an audit of marine parks is however welcome.

"They've announced the chair for that audit, we still haven't seen the terms of reference and we don't know the composition of that panel.

"So until we really see that we don't know if there's going to be bias within that, if it's going to be a truly objective review.

"If it is a truly objective review I have absolutely no doubt what so ever that marine parks will be seen for what they are.

"Which is a very, very important conservation measure," he said.