Media Release-Peter Garrett

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Media Release Peter Garrett attached

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Media-Release-NCC

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Coffs-Advocate-14.12.07.pdf

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COFFS  ADVOCATE:       MEDIA  RELEASE.
Attention:  Brian Budd.
BRIBES  &  SCUTTLE- BUTT.

Federal Environment Minster Garrett?s threats to withdraw the export licence attached to the commercial Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, smuts of bribery and scuttle-butt, under the pretence of protecting the Grey Nurse shark.

His threats are hollow. The export permit attached to the commercial Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, relates primarily to the Spanner Crab fishery. No Spanner Crabs are exported from Coffs Co-op.

We are all concerned about the levels of protection for the shark. The recent court case found the east coast population of Grey Nurse sharks, ?is most likely to be somewhere between 500 and 1,500. However it could be more!?  One expert witness estimated at least 3000. This finding makes a mockery of the ?fewer than 500,? touted by the green extremists.

We are not telling Federal Minister Garrett, to butt-out and mind his own business, but he really does need to keep abreast of the current strategies and science. Responding to green myths, misinformation and anecdotal evidence is simply unacceptable.

The NSW government has already announced commercial fishing closures at Green Island and Fish Rock, off South West Rocks on 16/11/07. These additional closures will commence in May 2008

Meanwhile, commercial fishers from those areas are undoubtedly saying, ?Show us the money,? by way of compensation for the loss of their livelihoods and the community?s loss of fresh local seafood.

As for Manta Arch and The Steps at Anemone Bay, those sites are already protected by government Sanctuary and Habitat Protection Zones. A series of fishing gear restrictions also apply, in those zones.
A permanent lock-up and lock-out at Anemone Bay can?t be justified. Grey Nurse sharks may only visit that site as a stopover, during an annual migration.

At Mermaid Reef off Crowdy Head, ?it is unknown exactly where the sharks are located,? say shark scientists. It too is used infrequently, during the annual migration. Therefore there is no justification whatsoever, in locking-up such sites. There is no advantage for the shark whatsoever.

The previous federal government has already allocated substantial research funding, into the biology, life cycle, population estimates, migration patterns and the impact of SCUBA diver operations on the habitats and life cycle of the Grey Nurse shark.
This has been necessary since the current science concerning the Grey Nurse shark is inconclusive at best and shonky at worst.
 The court found the Otway ?mark-recapture,? study was unreliable. And the data Otway used to develop his model was incorrect.

So Mr Garrett might be best advised to wait until the new science and research is in, before making any rash threats or offering bribes, concerning NSW fisheries.
Ken Thurlow
CEO ECOfishers NSW

[CEO]

The NCC keep promoting misinformation concerning the "fewer than 500," Grey Nurse sharks despite the judgement from the AAT. So we are duty bound, in the interests of credibility, to keep the public informed of the truth. Have they now reduced their claim from 18 sites to just 5? Does anyone else see a political conspiracy here? The five yearly review of the Solitary Islands Marine Park Zoning Plan is currently underway. Wouldn't this now be a golden opportunity for Verity Firth, (Minister for Marine Parks) to sneak in additional closures at Manta Arch and The Steps at Anemone Bay?  What do you think?

[CEO]

   BRIBERY AND SCUTTLE - BUTT for sure! Butt out Garrett. You don't manage NSW fisheries!

[sandfly]

        If this is how Labor's Minister Garrett is to "suck up" to the radical greens then he'll get plenty of opposition from ECOfishers.  This is a blatant attack on state rights and appears to also border on blackmail. Hope Minister MacDonald has the fortitude to stand up and oppose this radical green pressure. Is this an indication of what is to come?
        Then again Garrett did carry the bags at the "global warming conference" but was gagged by Prime Minister Rudd. Resulting in the most expensive porter ever used by a government representation.

[sandfly]

    From NCC website " Mr Garrett can make history". Hasn't he already? He would be the only minister for the environment ever to attend a major international environmental conference and be gagged by his own government. True conservationists must shudder in their boots.
   Seems Garrett is a government joke.
         

[Mel]

I've just phoned Dale Starr and voiced my anger over Garrett's press release, letting him know in no uncertain terms what I think of that fool and his interference about matters he knows nothing about. I invite others to do the same.

[CEO]

WHY OH WHY? Why is it that  ABC Regional Radio still persist in running the NCC's misinformation line about "fewer than 500 Grey Nurse sharks," left in the east coast population? The judgement from the AAT hearing, (which the NCC lost comprehensively) clearly states, "the population is estimated to be between 500 and 1,500. However it could be more!" One expert witness estimated 3,000.
 I heard the same old, same old, misinformation on ABC Regional News bulletins this morning. So I've decided to ask the ABC why? Therefore, just watch this space! CEO.

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ABC  NEWS:        Attention :  Donna Harper.


NCC CLAIMS BELATED & INACCURATE:

ECOfishers, the state?s peak conservation fishing organization, refutes the belated and inaccurate demands, of the taxpayer funded, Nature Conservation Council. (ABC News 15/12/07)

The NCC recently lost a case in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, concerning the Grey Nurse shark. This appeal was a huge waste of taxpayer funds and resources.

The Tribunal, confirmed the east coast population of Grey Nurse sharks, "Is most likely to be somewhere between 500 and 1,500. However it might be more!" One expert witness claimed at least 3000!
This determination clearly refutes the "fewer than 500," still touted by the NCC. Their claims are not credible.

It also concluded the science used by the NCC was "unreliable," and the data used in the modelling of Grey Nurse shark populations was "incorrect."

The NSW government (which manages NSW fisheries) has already announced commercial fishing closures, at Fish Rock, Green Island and Magic Point. That announcement was made on 16/11/07. (I know because I was in the NSW Fisheries minister's office when the announcement was made!) And the NCC is well aware of it.

The NCC's latest announcement ( dated 13/12/07) is not credible.

Ken Thurlow
CEO  ECOfishers  NSW
The Voice of NSW Recreational Fishers.

PS. Donna, the words and phrases Ive put in quotation marks are direct quotes from Justice Downes judgement, in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. We are all concerned at the levels of protection for the Grey Nurse shark. But the issue ought not be clouded by misinformation and misrepresentation, least of all by the NCC!

We proffer this response, in the interests of fair, balanced, unbiased and accurate reporting. Thanks Donna.

[CEO]

.......and the ABC did an interview, about this very subject this morning, (17/12/07) Highlights win be aired on regional news bulletins tomorrow. Good olde Aunty. She aint biased....all the time!

[CEO]

      Hey folks. Has anyone seen a Grey Nurse shark recently? Or they all extinct already? That's what will certainly happen if the NCC and the ABC keep promoting the fewer than 500, in the East Coast population. With fewer than 500, the gene pool is far too small for survival!