"Have Your Say" in Narooma News

[ACTAngler]

Some interesting reading from both sides of the debate:

Posted by Lynne Montgomery
Monday, 15 May 2006

The Durras Marine Park Working Group does not support any sanctuary zones in Durras Lake or in the Marine Park. There is no need for sanctuary zones. We contend that recreational fishers do not damage the fish stocks nor do they harm the environment. At the EUROBODALLA SHIRE COUNCIL ordinary meeting on TUESDAY 24 JANUARY 2006, the minutes report that Mr Mark Fleming of Coastwatchers made the following address:
"Mr Fleming indicated that the Marine Park decision has been made and basically will follow a similar process to the Regional Forest assessment. It will be based on science of the day and he cannot see the zonings affecting recreational fishing at all. He indicated that there would have to be a very strong case that recreational fishing in some way would destroy the habitat or somehow affect threatened species such as the New Zealand fur seal."
So what is this strong case that these environmentalists have determined warranted sanctuary zones for Durras, Potato Point and the Tollgate Islands. Other national parks do not consider sanctuary zoning necessary to protect fish stocks eg, Kakadu NP allows recreational fishing throughout the park.
The fact is that there is no evidence supporting sanctuary zones. I have worked in the field of data analysis for 15 years and the so-called scientific evidence presented by the MPA is thin, biased and rushed.

Lynne Montgomery

[ACTAngler]

Posted by John Broomhead
Saturday, 17 June 2006

NSW Fisheries manage fisheries, that is what you catch, the numbers and how you catch a species. Marine Parks manage the water from council sewerage ocean outfall pipes and run off from the land where as Southern Rivers Catchment Authority managers the catchments. The Batemans Marine Park manages only to three mile off shore and to the high tide mark. Marine Parks are similar to National Parks no dogs, no cats, or horse on the beaches, and they charge fees to use parks ie the GBRMP in Queensland.
There are some untested laws that need to be taken into consideration "The modern judicial view, since Malcolmson v O'Dea (1863) 10 HL 593, 11 ER 1155, is that the privileges of the Crown were curtailed by Magna Carta, and thereafter subject to legislative restriction and restricted to some privileged areas. The public right to fish is exercisable by every subject as of common right. This principle extends to fisheries of a tidal river to the extent that it is navigable.
Over the next 50 years, this part of the coast will be inundated with saltwater from anthropogenic climate change. As the land floods, septic tanks and industrial pollution will wash into the sea killing the system. Marine Parks like National Parks when they damage neighbouring property may be asked to protect the land from washing away hence a dangerous precedent. By controlling the Marine Park areas State Governments will be able to make laws for the removal of houses, septic tanks ect from the beach fronts at the owner cost under existing pollution laws. The lecture I gave at Southern Cross University (2005) was on Climate change, the planet's biggest problem. Marine Parks are just a diversion from climate change and will not help fish but will cost lots of money. As there is, no science behind the setting of areas in the Marine Parks, the whole park should be made a general propose areas until there are some hard local facts, as this coastline is autochthonously unique. The is a need for the MP management to site down with the people who have research the area and sort out the mess and tell the truth, it can be a lonely life in a small town when you off side with the people.

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Aaron Bryan
Monday, 19 June 2006

I find the Bateman Marine Park another restricitve alternative to place upon us folks who live in and love Australia. We all share a part in this wonderful stretch of coast and thus have the right to fish, swim, boat, earn a living without having to fear some reprisal for doing so. It is with great dismay I watch how poorly the NSW government has approached this habitat consevation scheme? It appears the only conservation scheme going for them is the saving of their own political seats! It's time to 'fish out' the present government and put in place one that will endevour to be fair on all grounds. I want my kids to be able to enjoy freely a future where wetting a line doesn't get them caught hook, line and sinker! All in all, the bait the NSW government is offering is for the wrong fish in the wrong area, the message is, "nothing is biting, go some where else".

[ACTAngler]

Posted by derek kreckler
Wednesday, 28 June 2006

Re:"Sanctuaries create more fish and more money", Wednesday, 28 June 2006.
Now 53 years old and raised on the NSW South Coast I cannot fathom what the fishing lobbyists are about. The logic of sustainable habitats to create/replenish fish stocks is so straight forward; those who argue against sanctuaries must be as blind as the proverbial welders dog. The scale of the sanctuary is easy to determine because there are plenty of existing examples overseas and the local science to sort it. Fish stocks along the NSW south coast (like elsewhere) are thining due to being over fished, we have no choice but to adapt.

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Shane Jasprizza
Friday, 7 July 2006

Take as long as you like Debus and Co. More fishing time for us while we still can. All the while, opposition to your marine parks increases, now apparently internally as well.
Support for the extreme-green anti-fishing lobby is falling too as they fumble for more dodgy science and emotive rhetoric. I see they have resorted to full page ads to push their "anti-fishing, lock everyone out of nature" message. All with our hard earned taxpayer dollars too!

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Dave Morgan
Monday, 10 July 2006

Letter to the Editor,
Greedy Grab
The recent gazettal of the Batemans Shelf Marine Park has angered not only fishers, locals and visitors but also the Right Faction of the NSW Labor Government, with yet another postponement of the long awaited draft plan until late July. The NSW Governments Marine Park sham has been exposed for what it really is, a greedy grab for our favourite fishing locations and calling them "sanctuary zones or "no take zones".
The NSW Government's Left Faction's plan of siding with the extreme green, anti-fishing mob has been exposed.
The Greens anti-fishing machine politicized this debate which is now clearly an election issue.
The Coalition policy on Marine Parks has a lot to recommend and is already gathering wide spread support amongst the NSW's one million recreational family fishers.
Traditional fisheries management is the only way to go, based on proper scientific data, as opposed to scientific consensus. The sham of trading our rights and freedoms for short term political gain will be judged at the ballot box in March 2007.

Dave Morgan

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Shane Jasprizza
Sunday, 16 July 2006

Now that the Draft Zoning Plan has been released for the Batemans Marine Park, it won't take long for the extreme-green anti-fishing groups to have their say (there's probably a letter on this page). They will tell us "it doesn't go far enough", "more Sanctuary Zones are needed" and "minimum 50% Sanctuary Zones to protect the environment". They are so predictable; it would be funny if they weren't wasting taxpayer money in their crusade to destroy recreational fishing.

Readers, if you get a chance, ask them for the research specific to the South Coast of NSW that shows Sanctuary Zones are needed. Ask them which species need protection from recreational anglers in NSW waters. (They usually go quiet at this time). If they haven't run off yet, ask them when was the last time they actually went fishing to allow them an informed opinion on what is happening in our environment. They are using your hard-earned tax dollars to lock fishing families out of nature. You have every right to ask them why.
 
 

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Bruce Andrew
Monday, 17 July 2006

I will vote against any political party that allows any marine park to stop recreational fishing on the south coast. We holiday every year in batemans bay and will not accept having our main holiday activity taken away. It will also be very bad for all small buisness people in the area. I cannot beleive how stupid the state goverment can be. Well then again i can, when you see the disaster that NSW has become

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Peter
Tuesday, 18 July 2006

Isn't amazing.
Another bit of GREENS/ LABOUR political crap.
These people want us to believe that scientific information from other parts of the world apply here.
Hello. The Phillipines is now busier than it was not because of Marine Parks but because of economics, warm weather, clean warm water and because its a tropical destination!!!
Id like too see all of the people come flooding into Australia to spend their hard earned dollar but lets be realistic. No ones come over to dive Sydney on a Diving Trip, everyone goes to The Barrier Reef or other warm water destinations.
Most that do dive these cold waters off NSW do so because the already live here. Visitors are more likely to go fishing than they are to go diving in the cold water.
The towns and business along the coast where Marinr Parks are situated have hit the wall.
Fishing charter operators, tackle shops, petrol staions, marinas and the accomidation industry
have all suffered.
The Marine Parks are supposed to benefit all but they DONT.
We get told that only a small percent of area will be taken away from fishing, but the truth is that all the areas that have reef, weed or any kind of structure is placed as off limits.
This actually means that they are making it only possible to catch flathead, flounder or whiting over sand or mud.
The science that has been used at meetings in the past has been on the edge of fraudulent.
Speakers talk of "The Spill Over Effect".
This Spill Over Effect was supposed to have everyone believe that by closing off areas so fish could breed, it would lead to so many fish, that they would simply have to move on because of overcrowding.
This is of course nothing but fancical. There was no scientific study done to prove this theory. Once again the government is trying to feed us "so-called" fact from other parts of the world.
The only fish that would benefit from closing off a reef would be the Rock Dwellers which are not targeted by rec-fisherman.
Fish are protected by size, bag limits and protected species which are reviewed each year. Fisherman put more money into the economy than any amount of Wet Tree Huggers could hope to dream of.
Recent studies from NSW Fisheries showed that hundreds of millions are spent each year by the fishing people of Australia.
Fishermen respect their waterways and everything that lives in it. We all marvel at the abundant pelagics at certain times of the year and always appreciate our surroundings.
How is a Marine Park going to improve anything by locking all out?
Simply it cant.
The real reason for Marine Parks is that the Federal Labour Government is paying for the Greens vote.
State Governments are paid money to designate areas as Marine Parks and are paid big dollars each year for doing so.
It is ashame that there are still people around that obviously have nothing better to do than write lies,fill their pockets with money and preach their beliefs, no matter how wrong, to any media outlet that will print such dribble.
I have three questions for everyone.
Why is it that the minority now have the power over the majority?
Why is my Fishing licence funds still being collected when I cant fish the areas I used to be able too?
Are our rec fishing licence money actually funding the Marine Parks drive?

Related Story: Sanctuaries create more fish and more money

[Rod Burston]

Time to speak up on Marine Park
By Stan Gorton
Wednesday, 19 July 2006

Batemans Marine Park manager Cameron Westaway as well as the State Government ministers have given their word that public comment on the draft zoning released over the weekend will be taken into account.

The detailed zoning map was released on the weekend to mixed initial reviews with sanctuary and habitat protection zones banning fishing on the north and southeastern sides of Montague Island as well as in the back reaches of Wagonga Estuary.

The official draft zoning does not vary greatly from the initial plan that aimed at setting aside about 20 per cent of the marine park in no-take zones.

Charter boat operators and to a lesser extent recreational fishers serving on the advisory committee say the sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones that would limit activities such as fishing are too much.



Conservationists such as the local Coastwatchers group on the other hand were generally satisfied with the draft zoning, although they were calling for greater protection of deeper water and sub-tidal beach areas.

There has been a delay with the printing of the brochures that outline the draft zoning of the Batemans Marine Park.

But Mr Westaway said the 40,000 brochures that include a map of the zoning as well as a submission form should be distributed to government offices, tackle shops and other tourism outlets by tomorrow.

"The initial responses have related to general issues about marine parks but now that people have started to look at the map, we expect to get comments about specific issues like the zoning," Mr Westaway said.

"There has been some concern about the lack of locals on the MPA (Marine Park Authority" committee, but apart from talking to the local community and acting on the advice of the advisory committee, the authority has also worked with local Fisheries officers whose knowledge and expertise has helped developed the draft zoning."

Local members who volunteered to serve on the advisory committee should not held accountable for draft zoning, because "at the end of the day it was the Government that put out the draft zoning," he said.

Mr Westaway urged everyone with an opinion to make a submission and that these comments would be taken into account with the final zoning being amended to take into account public comment.

The first in a series of public meetings is scheduled to take place in the next two weeks with venues advertised next week.

It's important to remember it is only a draft and we are keen to hear from everyone about how the proposed zonings would affect them, and we'll take on board everyone's comments," Mr Westaway said.

"We have made a number of slight changes compared with the previous draft seen by the committee at its last meeting, but there's not a great deal of changes."

Some committee members have been concerned that the committee spent so much time discussing sanctuary zones, they did not get around to discussing the extra restrictions they fear the Authority will impose on habitat protection and general purpose zones.

Mr Westaway said there would be a number of restrictions on commercial fishing in the habitat protection zones and these will be outlined in the brochures.

[Rod Burston]

Mixed views on marine park zoning
Wednesday, 19 July 2006

THE first South Coast locals to view the draft zoning map outlining the Batemans Marine Park were those who volunteered to serve on the advisory committee.
The consensus among the stakeholders serving on the committee is that all residents should have a look and make up their minds.

It does seem the Marine Park Authority will have a tough time pleasing everyone with recreational and commercial fishers joining charter operators in saying the proposed sanctuary zones are too extensive, while conservationists are saying the protection zones don't go far enough.

The Narooma News contacted advisory committee members on different sides of the debate and here is what they said:

Recreational fishers

Ian Smith, Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club



A representative for recreational fishers said the draft zoning map could have been a lot worse with the vast majority of Wagonga estuary and portions of Montague Island still open to fishing.

The draft zoning map released over the weekend was probably not going to satisfy anyone, according to the outgoing president of the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club Ian Smith.

"The conservationists want more and everyone else want less," Mr Smith.

He said he wanted to highlight that the Marine Park Authority produced the zoning map and not the advisory committee.

"Having said that, things could have been a lot worse and probably my main concern is what does the most damage environmentally is trawling and that is still allowed in considerable areas of the marine park," Mr Smith said.

"The commercial guys still need to make a living but it the more that take the buy-out offer the better and we need to make the sure the buy-out is done properly."

It was now the beginning of the three-month consultation period and he urged all recreational fishers to make individual submissions using the 40,000 or so blank forms that would be made available.

Petitions and other forms of letters would not count as much as individually submissions, he said.

Two local areas specifically to be closed off were the back reaches of Wagonga estuary as well as Black Bream point, but with enough submissions there areas could be opened to recreational fishing, he said.

Conservationists

Mark Fleming, Coastwatchers

Local conservationists were pleased with a draft zoning map that they said was a good balance between protection and general use such as fishing, Mark Fleming said.

"There's a mix of sanctuary and fishing and if people are not happy with the zones then there plenty of room to move and for negotiation," Mr Fleming said.

Coastwatchers did however believe that certain ecosystems or habitat types including beaches, sub-tidal sands/sendiments and deep water down to 200 metres were either underrepresented or not represented at all.

Mr Fleming was also critical of how some of the coastal lakes had been made sanctuary zones with his opinion being that Brou Lake needed to be a sanctuary while some other lakes south of Narooma were not as worthy of protection.

"At worst there will be no impact and at best there will be impact, but positive impact on the environment and the economy as has been the case everyone else in Australia that has gone through this process," Mr Fleming said.

Coastwatchers acting together with other NSW environmental groups would be putting together its own information advising people how to make submissions, he said.

In regards to concerns from specific sectors such as recreational fishers, he said it was important to realise the Government had gone to great lengths to accommodate activities.

For example, he said fishing was allowed at picnic areas on sanctuary zones on Wagonga Inlet.

Charter boat operators

Darryl Stuart, skipper of Dreamtime

Uncertainty associated with the marine park has had a significant impact on Narooma charter boat operators with most if not all businesses up for sale.

Darryl Stuart said he was disappointed with the draft zoning map, particularly the grey nurse habitat protection zone to the north of Montague Island.

About half of Mr Stuart's business was derived from taking fishing parties out and the grey nurse zone coupled with the sanctuaries on the eastern side of the island, made it hardly worth fishing the island.

Mr Stuart attacked the grey nurse protection noting that research had shown there were no females present while scuba divers last year spotted only two sharks over a one-month period.

Since bait fishing in the grey-nurse zone was banned for a portion of the year, fishers drift fishing risked being blown into the zone and copping a fine, he said.

"They're very poor reasons to put a lot of people out of business, not just charter operators but motels, tackle shops and tourism businesses in general," Mr Stuart said.

"Everyone suffers."

If the current zoning stood after the three-month consulatation period, he said he believed charter operators should be offered the same buy-back offer being made to commercial fishers.

He was critical of local conservationists who he said originally only wanted 5 to 8 per cent of areas set aside for sanctuaries but who now together with Sydney groups were asking for even more than the current zoning map's 20 per cent.

[ACTAngler]

Trawlers bow out
By Stan Gorton
Wednesday, 26 July 2006


THE Batesman Marine Park appears to be the final blow for an already suffering trawl industry with the majority of the fleet expected to tie up for good.

But the impact on the other smaller operators who make a living from inshore waters ranging from line and net fishers in small boats to abalone divers is not so clear.

The trawlers which have for generations dragged flathead and other species off the seabed would be the biggest producers of seafood from marine park waters.

But according to the chairman of the Bermagui fishing co-operative Rocky Lagana all but one or two of the dozen trawlers currently licenced to operate between Ulladulla and Bermagui will probably accept the State government buy-out.

As part of the Bateman Marine Park planning process the depart of Primary Industries is making available $8.5 million for fishing operations most affected by the park zoning with the maximum pay out capped at $350,000.

With many of the trawlers struggling the make a living with declining catches, higher costs and the uncertainty of the marine park, Mr Lagana said the buy out could come at just the right time for some operators.

Then were however one of two trawlers still making good money and these operations could stay on the water, however there was still a great deal of uncertainty for all involved.

Batemans Marine Park manager Cameron Westaway said while trawling would be banned from the habitat protection zone that made up much of the park, other types of fishing including line fishing would still be allowed.

Fish traps, not kingfish traps, would also be allowed while those set lining for school and gummy sharks would no longer be allowed to use unlimited numbers of hooks with specific hook restrictions coming into play.

These and other restrictions would impact on the small-scale inshore fisher such as Ron Snape who fished estuaries in winter and the coastal waters around Montague Island and other park waters in summer.

Mr Snape said debts he owed on his business meant he was not able to stop fishing but the uncertainty were making him think perhaps he should just cut his losses.

"I want to know what the vision of Environment Minister Bob Debus and the State Government is, do they actually see fishermen working these waters in years to come or do they just want fishing to stop altogether," he said.

A spokesman for State Fisheries Miniter Ian McDonald said it was not appropriate for the minister to describe his vision given the buy out and zoning was a work in the progress.

The spokesman did however say experienced Fisheries Department staff who had worked on buy outs at Sydney Harbour and Byron Bay would be processing and approving the buy out applications, which were due by August 18.

Mr Westaway said he was confident that the buy out would be fair and timely.

"There will still be commercial fishing in the marine park and hopefully the buy out will remove enough of the effort to ensure a viable fishery for those who remain," he said.

[ACTAngler]

Corunna opened - council to notify fishers
By Stan Gorton
Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Corunna Lake was artificially opened last Wednesday by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Tilba Tilba Lake has also opened to the ocean with a Eurobodalla Shire Council spokesperson saying it opened naturally due to the recent wet weather.

NPWS spokesman Stuart Cohen said Corunna Lake whose entrance lies in the Eurobodalla National Park was generally opened when the water level began to flood a section of what is known as the "Old Highway" on the western side of the lake, preventing traffic from passing there.

"It hasn't been opened for three years," Mr Cohen said.

The opening of lakes by local authorities including Nangudga Lake by the Eurobodalla Shire Council last month have come amid calls for commercial fishers to be notified of these lake openings.

The Eurobodalla Shire Council has pledged to put in place protocals to notify commercial fishers when coastal lakes are opened.

According to Councillor Rob Pollock, there needs to be a protocol for lake opening requiring professional fishermen to be told when one is intended.

He raised the point at last Tuesday's meeting of shire council.

He referred specifically to Corunna Lake were he said a fisherman was considering putting down nets that night. If the lake were opened during the same night it could mean the loss of nets, he said.

Deputy General Manager Peter Tegert said he wasn't aware of any such protocol.

"If it doesn't exist," Mr Tegert said, "we'll add it."

At the time when these discussions were being held last week, councillors and staff were unaware of the pending plans to open Corunna Lake.

One fisher who supported such protocols is Ron Snape, who confirmed fishers could lose equipment and that their boats could even be left high and dry.

He also said there needed to be consideration of the timing of openings with the ecology of fish life potentially affected, as was the case with black bream whose spawning beds in the shallows could be destroyed if lakes were opened in September and October.

There could also be benfits for the ecology and fishing by timing the opening of lakes, such as the case at this time of year when prawn larvae were being washed down the coast with warmer currents and could potentially enter the lakes.

But Mr Snape said he believed the timing of the Corunna Lake opening could have been best delayed until after last week's heavy seas, which he said would have acted against the outflowing water lessening the chances of a deeper channel that would have lasted longer.

[ACTAngler]

Posted by Shane Jasprizza
Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Re: Corunna opened - council to notify fishers

I hope the NPWS got a permit from the Marine Parks Authority before opening the lake, as required under the MPA Act.  That could be quite damaging to the "biodiversity" if they didn't know what they were doing...

The suggestion to consult commercial fishers before opening lakes should be extended to recreational anglers.  I'd hate to be left "high and dry" as well, although we will get that with the Marine Park by default.

[ACTAngler]

Marine Park meetings start today
Wednesday, 2 August 2006

The Marine Parks Authority (MPA) is about to begin a round of public information sessions throughout the region to discuss with interested groups and individuals the recently released draft Zoning Plan for the Batemans Marine Park.
Initially the MPA will host meetings in Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui, Ulladulla and Moruya.

MPA Manager, Cameron Westaway, said today that the information sessions will be an opportunity for people to discuss the detail on the draft Zoning Plan.

"In the lead up to the release of the Draft Zoning Plan it's been very clear to us that people were anxious to see some lines on maps. They wanted to know exactly what was being proposed.

"We can now tell them and explain exactly what is being proposed. We are now seeking some constructive feedback from people on what they think of the plan and what amendments they'd like to see occur before we conclude the exhibition period.

"Feed back from the meetings will be collated and published and included in the submission process".

"The plan can be viewed on the MPA website but hard copies of the plan are available and are now being distributed throughout the region.

"I expect we will have some lengthy discussion and debate in our effort to refine this plan so that it provides some long term protection for marine environments within the park while continuing to provide a broad range of recreational fishing opportunities," Mr Westaway said.

Meetings will be held in the following locations.

• Batemans Bay: Today at the Catalina Country Club. 154 Beach Rd Batemans Bay.
• Narooma: Aug. 8 at the Narooma Golf Club. Ballingalla St. Narooma.
• Bermagui: Aug. 17 at the Bermagui Country Club. Tuross St Bermagui.
• Ulladulla: Aug. 22 at Ulladulla Civic Centre. Princes Hwy, Ulladulla.
• Moruya: Aug. 30 at Moruya High School Hall. Albert St, Moruya.

All meetings will commence at 5:30p.m.

Further meetings and open days sessions will be advertised in the near future.

Further information: Contact Veronica Le Nevez on 0439 600 065.