Moonlighter
05-04-2007, 04:49 PM
The media release below was issued by MBAA yesterday to all media outlets.
Show success for the Moreton Bay Access Alliance
The 2007 Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show last weekend was a major success for the Moreton Bay Access Alliance.
Access Alliance chair Bruce Alvey said the positive public response to the MBAA was overwhelming.
“It far exceeded our wildest dreams and clearly vindicated the approaches and position adopted by the Alliance”, said Mr Alvey.
“We got our message across to thousands of recreational anglers that we are about sustainable solutions and a united voice for fishing and boating in Moreton Bay.
“Representatives from the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association were on hand to outline the real facts about commercial fishing in the Bay, helping to build further bridges between commercial and recreational fishing sectors.”
Mr Alvey said average recreational anglers had expressed major concerns about the potential impacts of the Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning changes on fishing activities in the region.
“Offshore anglers also were very concerned that the boundaries of the Moreton Bay Marine Park included nearly all fishable reefs in the region – a fact that is not readily apparent from the Department’s brochures,” he said.
“Some anglers also feared the EPA would utilise the same computer-based approach for the Moreton Bay Marine Park rezoning as adopted in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Review which decimated coastal communities in north Queensland.
“MBAA has similar concerns about the relevance of this computer-based model to the unique environment of Moreton Bay and is advocating with the EPA for a more balanced risk-based approach to be used.
“An important part of the show for the Access Alliance was it provided an opportunity to commence data collection for the research project funded by the Commonwealth’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and being conducted by the University of Queensland.
“More than 450 anglers committed their time to complete surveys on their fishing activities in Moreton Bay. This information will be directly used by the Moreton Bay Access Alliance to help ensure the economic impacts of the Moreton Bay rezoning are minimised and a workable solution is found that provides for the long term sustainable use of Moreton Bay. ”
For more information contact:
Bruce Alvey, MBAA chair on 3271 2844
Grant Bennett, MBAA deputy-chair on 0409 476173
Show success for the Moreton Bay Access Alliance
The 2007 Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show last weekend was a major success for the Moreton Bay Access Alliance.
Access Alliance chair Bruce Alvey said the positive public response to the MBAA was overwhelming.
“It far exceeded our wildest dreams and clearly vindicated the approaches and position adopted by the Alliance”, said Mr Alvey.
“We got our message across to thousands of recreational anglers that we are about sustainable solutions and a united voice for fishing and boating in Moreton Bay.
“Representatives from the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association were on hand to outline the real facts about commercial fishing in the Bay, helping to build further bridges between commercial and recreational fishing sectors.”
Mr Alvey said average recreational anglers had expressed major concerns about the potential impacts of the Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning changes on fishing activities in the region.
“Offshore anglers also were very concerned that the boundaries of the Moreton Bay Marine Park included nearly all fishable reefs in the region – a fact that is not readily apparent from the Department’s brochures,” he said.
“Some anglers also feared the EPA would utilise the same computer-based approach for the Moreton Bay Marine Park rezoning as adopted in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Review which decimated coastal communities in north Queensland.
“MBAA has similar concerns about the relevance of this computer-based model to the unique environment of Moreton Bay and is advocating with the EPA for a more balanced risk-based approach to be used.
“An important part of the show for the Access Alliance was it provided an opportunity to commence data collection for the research project funded by the Commonwealth’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and being conducted by the University of Queensland.
“More than 450 anglers committed their time to complete surveys on their fishing activities in Moreton Bay. This information will be directly used by the Moreton Bay Access Alliance to help ensure the economic impacts of the Moreton Bay rezoning are minimised and a workable solution is found that provides for the long term sustainable use of Moreton Bay. ”
For more information contact:
Bruce Alvey, MBAA chair on 3271 2844
Grant Bennett, MBAA deputy-chair on 0409 476173