Derek_Bullock
16-01-2006, 10:06 PM
ECOfishers
"Conservation with a difference. Making people part of the solution"
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 16-1-2006
Public meetings - "The Impacts and Implications of marine parks”
Concerned local fishers in conjunction with state wide conservation organisation, ECOfishers, have called public meetings in Bateman's Bay and Narooma to explore the social and economic implications and likely impacts of Bateman’s Marine Park. These issues are of #great interest to fishers, outdoor Australians and the businesses that depend on them.
The meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 24-1-06 in the auditorium of the Bateman’s Bay Bowling Club. A second meeting has been arranged in Narooma at 5 pm on Wednesday 25-1-06 at the Sporting and Services Club.
Keynote speaker will be marine conservationist, Ken Thurlow, who is the Chairman of the Northern Rivers Fisheries Conference and a member of the Cape Byron Marine Park Advisory Committee. Ken has extensive experience with marine parks and the Marine Park Authority. He has a sound understanding of the underlying scientific issues.
"Spin from the government would have the community believe that these marine parks are for multiple use. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Ken Thurlow said today. “Once they are zoned, they are literally restricted use and restricted access parks."
Mr Thurlow believes we can still have marine parks to protect the biodiversity, but they should be accessible to all, with conservation through sustainable use.
“While there is great disagreement among marine scientists the world over concerning the value of marine parks, one thing is for certain. They are not for managing the fisheries.” he said "There is no scientific justification whatsoever for locking the community out and these decisions are being based on extreme ideological grounds."
The Marine Park Authority typically selects areas of high marine biodiversity for large no take zones despite research that shows that line fishing has little or no impact. These are the same areas that are of most use to line fishers.
ECOfishers spokesman, Rod Burston, said that recent zoning of the Cape Byron Marine Park was a disaster. The local community has refused to support the park because their contributions were ignored when the zoning plan was drawn up. Consequently, they have no ownership of the park.
“The Environment Minister, Bob Debus, said that Cape Byron will be the model for other marine parks. This is sad news for local iconic fishing spots like Montague Island and the Toll Gates.”
“We are calling this meeting to fully explore all of the issues. After all, this is the community's park and the aim of the meeting is to keep it that way.”
Rod Burston
CEO ECOfishers
rod@ecofishers.com
Special guests:
Attending
Robert Smith: President of the NSW Fishing Clubs Association and The Fishing Party
Jon Jenkins: Sitting member in the NSW Legislative Council, The Outdoor Recreation Party
Local State member: Andrew Constance
Federal Fisheries Minister: Ian MacDonald
NSW Leader of The Nationals & Deputy Opposition Leader in the New South Wales Legislative Council, Duncan Gay
Local Federal member Gary Nairn has apologised and is being represented by Ian MacDonald (federal)
Doug Joiner of AFTA
Neil Wardell of "Access for All"
Invited to attend
The Mayor: Neil Mumme, Eurobodalla Shire
Mayor of Shoalhaven, Doug Watson
Member for Gilmore: Joanna Gash
NSW Fisheries Minister: Ian MacDonald
NSW Environment Minister: Bob Debus
NSW Premier: Morris Iemma
"Conservation with a difference. Making people part of the solution"
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 16-1-2006
Public meetings - "The Impacts and Implications of marine parks”
Concerned local fishers in conjunction with state wide conservation organisation, ECOfishers, have called public meetings in Bateman's Bay and Narooma to explore the social and economic implications and likely impacts of Bateman’s Marine Park. These issues are of #great interest to fishers, outdoor Australians and the businesses that depend on them.
The meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 24-1-06 in the auditorium of the Bateman’s Bay Bowling Club. A second meeting has been arranged in Narooma at 5 pm on Wednesday 25-1-06 at the Sporting and Services Club.
Keynote speaker will be marine conservationist, Ken Thurlow, who is the Chairman of the Northern Rivers Fisheries Conference and a member of the Cape Byron Marine Park Advisory Committee. Ken has extensive experience with marine parks and the Marine Park Authority. He has a sound understanding of the underlying scientific issues.
"Spin from the government would have the community believe that these marine parks are for multiple use. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Ken Thurlow said today. “Once they are zoned, they are literally restricted use and restricted access parks."
Mr Thurlow believes we can still have marine parks to protect the biodiversity, but they should be accessible to all, with conservation through sustainable use.
“While there is great disagreement among marine scientists the world over concerning the value of marine parks, one thing is for certain. They are not for managing the fisheries.” he said "There is no scientific justification whatsoever for locking the community out and these decisions are being based on extreme ideological grounds."
The Marine Park Authority typically selects areas of high marine biodiversity for large no take zones despite research that shows that line fishing has little or no impact. These are the same areas that are of most use to line fishers.
ECOfishers spokesman, Rod Burston, said that recent zoning of the Cape Byron Marine Park was a disaster. The local community has refused to support the park because their contributions were ignored when the zoning plan was drawn up. Consequently, they have no ownership of the park.
“The Environment Minister, Bob Debus, said that Cape Byron will be the model for other marine parks. This is sad news for local iconic fishing spots like Montague Island and the Toll Gates.”
“We are calling this meeting to fully explore all of the issues. After all, this is the community's park and the aim of the meeting is to keep it that way.”
Rod Burston
CEO ECOfishers
rod@ecofishers.com
Special guests:
Attending
Robert Smith: President of the NSW Fishing Clubs Association and The Fishing Party
Jon Jenkins: Sitting member in the NSW Legislative Council, The Outdoor Recreation Party
Local State member: Andrew Constance
Federal Fisheries Minister: Ian MacDonald
NSW Leader of The Nationals & Deputy Opposition Leader in the New South Wales Legislative Council, Duncan Gay
Local Federal member Gary Nairn has apologised and is being represented by Ian MacDonald (federal)
Doug Joiner of AFTA
Neil Wardell of "Access for All"
Invited to attend
The Mayor: Neil Mumme, Eurobodalla Shire
Mayor of Shoalhaven, Doug Watson
Member for Gilmore: Joanna Gash
NSW Fisheries Minister: Ian MacDonald
NSW Environment Minister: Bob Debus
NSW Premier: Morris Iemma