How many conservationists?

[ACTAngler]

Input invited into sanctuary zones
By Eric Wiseman
Thursday, 4 May 2006

LOCAL conservationists were given an opportunity at Moruya on Wednesday to indicate areas they would like to see become Sanctuary Zones in the Batemans Marine Park.

Many present nominated major "no go," sanctuaries in areas at Durras, Potato Point and Tollgate Islands, with a small area off Montague Island.

They also said they would like to see some Habitat Protection zones, including the area between Burawarra and Toragy Points, and around Montague Island.

There were about ten people at the meeting which was chaired by Coastwatchers' president Mark Fleming.

Mr Fleming said that a draft zoning plan would be released after a meeting of the Marine Park Advisory Committee, of which he is a member, on May 12.

He pointed out that the Marine Park was about ecological sustainability and its governing Act said nothing about economics.

The meeting also heard from Paul McLeod who is Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Marine Park Authority (MPA). He said although his brief was to communicate with the Koori community "I'm there for the wider community."

He said he had met local Aboriginal Lands Councils who were making contributions to the draft zoning plan.

There were four major Koori families involved in commercial fishing in the Marine Park, using nets, he said.

The MPA's Veronica La Nevez opened plans for the environmentalists to look at and outline their ideas about zonings.

Mr Fleming said after the meeting that it had been useful in allowing conservationists to put forward their views on the park.

"We are very appreciative of the opportunity to place on the maps our ideas of some zonings," he added.

[ACTAngler]

"To the editor,

Only 10 conservationisits attended a meeting to put forward their views on the Batemans Marine Park ('input invited into sanctuary zones', 3 April 2006)?  Why then does the NSW Government pander to such a small minority then?

We had over 250 recreational anglers attend a meeting in Canberra.  The vast majority of those present don't want a Batemans Marine Park at all.  Over 6,000 submissions opposed the draft zoning for the Cape Byron Marine Park, but it went ahead anyway and was more restrictive that the draft. 

Why won't Debus, Macdonald and the rest of the Iemma Labor government listen to us?  The NSW Coalition have committed to review all Marine Park Zonings and change the legislation so public opinion actually has INPUT into the process.  Maybe NSW anglers should vote for them instead..."

[ACTAngler]

They also said they would like to see some Habitat Protection zones, including the area between Burawarra and Toragy Points, and around Montague Island.

What if the Park was 100% Habitat Protection Zone.  This would still allow recreational fishing, which, from all reports, is a sustainable activity.

Protection for Grey Nurse sharks could be adequately acheived by retaining existing Critical Habitat restrictions. 

Protection of recreational fish stocks could be achieved using existing Fisheries legislation. 

Sustainable commercial fishing methods could be accommodated.  Habitat damage from unsustainable trawling could be banned.

Sounds like a SENSIBLE SOLUTION!  Nah, the NSW Government would have none of that!!!

[Rod Burston]

What if the Park was 100% Habitat Protection Zone.? This would still allow recreational fishing, which, from all reports, is a sustainable activity.

A ten year Queensland Government funded study on the effects of line fishing concluded that this form of fishing had neglible impact on biodiversity.

This study also showed that fish "learn" not to get caught and that inability on fishers part? led to the old wives tales about declining fisheries. The author also observed that creative fishers always did well, even on heavily fished reefs.

This is reflected in the results of fishing competitions. The number of points required to win a State title in a spearfishing or line fishing competition has not changed in fourty years despite increased gear restrictions, increased size limits and reduced bag limits.

An American study showed that line fishing had the lowest impact of all fishing methods.

Why on earth would any sensible government kick rec fishers out when there is no benefit for conservation?

See ECOfishers http://www.ecofishers.com/science-library.shtml for full assessments

[Duffer]

Don't be lulled in to a false sense of security with habitat protection zones. The marine parks can do what they like to whoever the like with the habitat protection zoning.

Just look at what happened with the Mackerel Boulders at Cape Byron and what was done to spearfishers at Lord Howe.

[Oly]

Duffy stole my thunder there.

Also have a look at jervis bay and the habitat area around hyams beach.  No spearfishing.  This was apparently due to the percieval of a public danger to swimmers by spearfishers....hmm cant remember any evidence of swimmers being accidentally shot by a speargun or handspear.

The next cab off the rank will be to intrudce a limited species list i habitat zones similar to that at Fish Rock where spearos cant take mulloway, snapper, jacks or jobfish. The fact a guy needs to sit on the bottom at 34 metres ona bretahold to get a jack was conveniently misssed.

Its the thin edge of the wedge.  In my books its all or nothing. if you have to have the marine parks ( and I dotn think they are needed- just sensible management) then its all out of sanctuaries- and the rest is available for all uses.

Alternatively locate the habitat areas where they cant be accessed from land 9 ie southern headland of jervis bay(national park banning spearguns), and often the northern headland due to closure by the navy and 90% of the available area through habitat protection is effectively a sanctuary to land based people.

[ACTAngler]

Yep, Jervis Bay - "Beautiful one day, what the MPA doesn't take, Defence will lock you out of the next"

Interesting, Debus yesterday claimed that Jervis Bay MArine Park was working well and everyone was happy with it