Fishers at Bateman's Bay need your help for Xmas

[Rod Burston]

All,
This letter was printed in the Bateman's Bay paper today. This paper has not run one single article or letter against marine parks before this despite a large local fishing population (+40%) and a groundswell of discontent. The locals phoned me today and thanked ECOfishers.
Some supporting letters from you guys would be most appreciated.
Rod
PS We are having the same trouble with the Pt Stephen's Advocate. I sent them a copy too. Was it printed?
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Rod Burston
To: editor.baypost@ruralpress.com
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 8:14 PM
Subject: Food for thought this Xmas


To the Editor,
 
Food for thought this Xmas

 If you are visiting Bateman's Bay and the Nature Coast this summer, I encourage you to spare a thought for the issues associated with the roll out of marine parks while you are here.

 In the main, Australians agree with the need to conserve the marine environment but the manner in which this is being achieved is extremely controversial and has polarised outdoor and country Australia.

 Fishers, like the hunter gatherers before them, understand and support the need for conservation. They also have a firm grasp of their traditional right to integrate into the natural world. For them, conservation embraces the notion of universal sustainable use.

 By contrast, the Government is implementing draconian measures driven by the quasi religious beliefs of the extreme green movement who promote preservation over conservation by locking up vast areas of the most valuable parts of our marine environment and throwing away the key.

 The sad thing is that mainstream science is being routinely ignored. Science says that sanctuary zones are ineffective as fisheries management tools. Science says that line fishing does not threaten biodiversity. And science frequently describes proposed sanctuary zones as ?pristine? even after more than a century of what surely must have been sustainable use.

 No, the reason for the creation of these lockout zones is political and emanates from the most divisive force in Australian politics today. Extreme green ideology. Preferences equal sanctuary zones and they couldn?t care less about the people.

 I wish you and your family every success on your fishing adventures while you are on holidays Enjoy the prawns, crabs and oysters you harvest and take in the surroundings in your special part of Australia, they are beautiful.

 Make the most of it while you can because there is better than a 50% chance that the place that has served you so well for decades past won?t be there for you at this time next year.

Rod Burston
ECOfishers

?Conservation with a difference. We make people part of the solution?

[Grantm]

I lived in Batemens Bay for over 7 years and it is a great place. Come summer local business relies wholy on tourist dollars to survive and carry them through winter.

Taking fishing out of the equation will devastate the town. My family owned a Marina and hire boat business there where I worked as well, and can speak of this first hand.

I will certainly email the editor and plead to increase the public's awareness of this situation through his press, which they probably know little about.

Another great letter Rod.

[Tarki]

                                    SCIENCE  IGNORED.

The first goal of the NSW Marine Parks Act (1997) is" to conserve biological diversity and marine habitats." What has not been explained, nor scientifically studied, in the Batemans Marine Park, is the perceived or real impact recreational line fishing has on the biodiversity or habitat.
Overseas studies have highlighted the fact that recreational line fishing has negligible impact on the biodiversity or habitats overseas. So locking up large areas in sanctuary zones, and locking fishing families out, is akin to using a sledge hammer to crack a peanut.
 Yet the Labor government expects locals to swallow their political spin, hook, line and sinker, without scientific verification or justification. Not likely.        Tarki.

That's my contribution to a desperate cause for fishing families in the Batemans Bay area. Locals there must now take ownership of the problem and campaign distinctly on a local front. So keep us all up to date Batemans Bay. We can assist with advice and ideas and information.   Tarki.

[Grantm]

I lived in Batemens Bay for over 7 years and it is a great place. Come summer local business relies wholy on tourist dollars to survive and carry them through winter.

Taking fishing out of the equation will devastate the town. My family owned a Marina and hire boat business there where I worked as well, and can speak of this first hand.

I will certainly email the editor and plead to increase the public's awareness of this situation through his press, which they probably know little about.

Another great letter Rod.

Email sent