South Coast ECOfishers

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Thanks to Brett Turner and his capable and dedicated South Coast ECOfishers group. The only error in the reporting is that Ken Thurlow has now been elected as the new CEO of ECOfishers NSW.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?NOWRA? PUBLIC? MEETING...... ECOFISHERS.
? Great report on the Nowra ECOfishers meeting guys. ( Brett Turner & Co.)? How did the commercial fishers respond / react? It's not surprising at all, to see them there.? ? ? ?Tarki.

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? SOUTH? COAST? ECOFISHERS.? ? ?Thanks to the team of experts who organized the Nowra meeting. Went off without a hitch and like clockwork! Now that's superb organization! Even better still, all the costs incurred were covered by the local group. Great budgetting and management, guys. I thought the crowd was more than 200. I couldn't count clearly. There were so many people standing aropund the walls which made it difficult.? ?Tarki

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  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS:  Well folks! What did you people think of the Alan Jones 2GB Show on Labor's marine parks? Heard the "Talk-Back" segment yet? South coast gets a big feature.    Tarki

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  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS  Catch David Suzuki, ex-everything, in Wollongong tonight. (14/10/06)  Fishers would love his extreme views about marine parks and fishing. ECOfishers Dr Jon Jenkins is going. Now he could ask some pertinent questions, and provide some lively entertainment!   14/10/06.      Tarki

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                                                                             SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS.
 Our bumper stickers will be available in the very near future, through Treasurer Merv. Everyone must have one (or two, or more) Wear and display them with pride. They are a limited edition and will soon become "collectors items." So be sure to get your share. Get in quick. Catbalou will have plenty more to display. Isn't he a champion? Tarki

[Nete-Quette]

 MEDIA RELEASE 20th October 2006
NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE
Chairman  Dr. Philip Creagh  4476 3604

Secretary  Mr. John Moore

PO Box 596, Narooma, NSW, 2546

Eurobodalla Council to meet with Minister Debus to seek compensation.

The Narooma Port Committee understands that a delegation from The Eurobodalla Shire Council will meet with Minister Debus in relation to the potential economic calamity from the Batemans Marine Park.

The Narooma Port Committee expects that Minister Debus will put a positive spin on the Marine Park based on groundless assumptions.

Minister Debus will say studies at Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP), done in 2001, show an increase of $6million in the local economy.  What he won't tell you is that the report was based on figures obtained in 1997, before the Park was even established, and is based on the improvement in income from the Marine Parks Authority finanacial input.  It was a forecast of the effect, not a figure of actual performance.

Minister Debus will say that a new study about SIMP shows that business has improved 20% over the period 2001 to 2005.  Could I remind Councillors that that represents an improvement of 4% per year, barely above the CPI.  This report only took data from 50 businesses.  The report by Strategic Economic Solutions for Eurobodalla Council queried 110 businesses.  This report says a lot about the economic credentials of the Department of Conservation

Minister Debus will say that the buyout for the Commercial fishermen in the Marine Park area  will inject funds $8.5million into the area.  What he won't tell you is that the NSW Department of fisheries will be the major recipient receiving $500,000 of that amount.  If the "bought out" fishermen leave the community then that money is "exported" and is lost to our community.

Minister Debus will say "that only 20% is "No take area", that there is still 80% of the Park left to fish in".  What he won't tell you is that to many fishers that 20% "No Take" zone means that 75% of their best fishing spots have had access denied.

Minister Debus will point to the amount of research that shows "Marine Park benefits".  What he won't tell you is that much of this research is theoretical and definitely NOT applicable in cool temperate waters.  There is a growing body of Marine Scientists, in NSW, who are questioning why the research on the Marine Parks Authority web site is so skewed and biased, as it does NOT show the considerable body of evidence pointing to the costs and problems associated with Marine parks.  It is simply NOT stated.  Eurobodalla Shire Council is now starting to see the dark side of Marine Parks.

Minister Debus will say that the Batemans Marine Park is part of NSW's commitment to the ANZECC representative system of Marine Protected areas.  What he won't tell you is that Australia now has 30% of the world's MPAs.  When can we stop? When can we stop this dislocation to the constituents who live on the South Coast?

Minister Debus will say that this Park was announced in 2001.  What he won't tell you is that a Media release by Minister MacdDonald and Debus in Janury 2005 stated " ... there were no immediate plans for a Park on the South Coast, as the Government's priorities lay North of Sydney, and that NO MARINE PARK would be declared prior to a DETAILED socio economic study being done beforehand into the possible impacts on businesses and industry".  I leave it up to the members of the delegation to determine the veracity of that statement.

The final concern I have is related to the economic ineptitude of the Greens and the green conservation movement.  They claim that tourists will "flock" to the area, especially eco-tourists, and fishers will come because of the improved fishing.

Perhaps both outcomes are illusory.  If Councillors will recall after the conversion of state forests into National Parks, and the conclusion of the Regional Forest Agreements, the claim was made by Premier Carr, and the Green conservation movement, that this would signal an eco tourist bonanza for South East NSW.  As far as I am aware many businesses are still waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting

Similarly the claims made of better fish stocks may also be illusory.  The potential buyout of ALL the Commercial board trawlers within the Batemans Marine Park appears to have been put on hold.  It would set an unacceptable precedent for NSW Fisheries, as no Marine Park in NSW has purchased the licences for ALL board trawlers.

The only concern I had with Mr. Houghton's report to Council was his prediction of an increase in fish stocks for recreational fishers within a few years.  It is based on his belief that ALL the trawlers would leave the Park.  This outcome, which may be laudable, however has a very good chance of NOT happening.  As everyone should realise, just one Trawler, with increased fishing effort, can remove as much fish as 14 Trawlers could before the Park was established.  The increase in fish stocks, simply because of the presence of the Batemans Marine Park is delusional.

Even the Marine Parks Authority in its summation of the Batemans Marine Park claim that the exclusion of fishing within the Estuaries of the BMP is most unlikely to conserve either biodiversity or fish stocks.

If the improvement in fish stocks does NOT occur this will have a catastrophic outcome for the South Coast of NSW.

The whole zoning process HAS to be revisited to get an acceptable outcome for the South Coast community, the major users of the Marine Park and the environment.  Ten thousand fishers who live on the South Coast, and one million fishers who live in NSW, will not be deceived by the NSW Government's apparent attempt to secure Green preferences prior to the March 2007 State elections

[Tarki]

PHIL  CREAGH:  A superb report, again Phil. Succinct and factual. ECOfishers salutes you. You sure do have a way with words. Now, let's hope the Councillors take real notice of it and aren't swayed by personal political loyalties.     Tarki

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 SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS:   Who caught up with Dr J J during the weekend and how did it all go?  Can't wait to see the interviews.....and comments, before the editing is done.     Tarki

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  ATTENTION  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS:    When is the "Zoning Plan," for Baremans Bay due to be announced?  The Plan that is final and NOT negotiable?  WE understand the Port Stephens Zoning Plan will be announced BEFORE Xmas.......just in time for the unsuspecting hordes of tourists!     Tarki.

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SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS:   Be sure to check out our beaut bumper sticker deal, on this site. Every South Coast Ecofisher should be sporting one , at least, on the family waggon.  They are colour coded to go nicely on boats too.   Would even be useful at boatramps or wherever recreational fishers meet or congregate. Tarki

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  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS.......What's happening men?  Any ECOfishers bumper stickers sighted down there yet?  They've been seen pretty widely in other parts of the state....even upside down on a front bumper!   (must be a greeny!)  And we have our first member from Tasmania. Must have been that bottle, with a membership form in it, Brett set free. Someone in Tassie found it!           Tarki

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  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS:  Port Stephens zoning plan before Xmas. Batemans Bay zoning plan in the New Year (Doubtful. The slugs go on leave for 4 weeks) And a change of Government in March! If you make it happen!  Only then, will it be back to business as usual.  All Labor/ Greeny boundaries to be reviewed!   So we all, must make it happen.   Tarki

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  SOUTH  COAST  ECOFISHERS: Who is this Laborite on the Batemans Marine Park, so called "Advisory Committee?"  He says he represents recreational fishers and has something to do with a Tourist organization. His name is Dene Moore and he claims he represents the areas recreational fishers and is a keen supporer of Labor's marine parks. Just who is he representing?  How many submissions were collected from recreational fishers OPPOSING Labor's so called sanctuary Zones?    Tarki

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South Coast?s marine park controversy is on ?State Focus?, Saturday, Illawarra/South Coast Channel 10