gunna
18-08-2005, 07:13 AM
In NSW there is State MP, Jon Jenkins, for the Outdoor Party who is constantly nagging the Government on decisions about things like closure of 4x4 areas 's or the creation of Marine Parks etc. I thought you might be interested in the Government's response that Jon has documentented in his news letter regarding community input to decisions on creation of marine parks with subsequent bans on fishing in those areas. Reminds me of similar decisions made about the GBR and why we need to have someone like the Fishing Party in Qld going to bat for us. Read on :
It seems that the Government’s “consultation process” with the community with regard to the creation of a Marine Park at Cape Byron has been just a formality;
part of a predetermined process prior to declaring the final zoning plans for Cape Byron. I found this out in Parliament Question time on 23rd March when I asked the Minister of Primary Industries to explain his response to another question when he stated he had “got it right” with the sanctuary zone guideline figure with respect to both the Lord Howe Island and Byron Bay sanctuary zones and that “we will be basing our future actions on marine parks on similar sorts of decision making.” This is irrespective of overwhelming community opposition and scientific doubt over the benefits of total no-take areas. The Minister replied, “names on petitions do not necessarily translate to real community support on the issues!” Therefore I can only conclude the 6000+ submissions including my own were futile.
We now know that the 30% figure is the benchmark for future marine parks: irrespective of the fact that fisheries management thinking has evolved to a point where most marine scientists and international scientific bodies are questioning the benefits of no-take areas. There is no turning back, no compromise and no room for consideration of new research findings on the extremists agenda. It seems clear the Government is carrying out a long term strategy of killing off recreational fishing: on June 2nd the Government declared increases in recreational fishing licence fees for both fresh and saltwater anglers!! This is nothing short of war by attrition on recreational fisherman! So it’s going to cost more just to be able to “wet a line” in NSW: under the pretence of using these revenues for “maintaining” fishing havens (which incidentally are being systematically reduced) as well as using this money to buy out the commercial operators. In response to my question in Parliament on March 23rd the Hon. Ian McDonald stated, “$4.3 million will be available for a commercial buy-out in that park.” Now we know how; the Government is taking from Peter (recreational fishermen) to give to Paul (commercial fishermen)
and then banning them BOTH!!
It seems that the Government’s “consultation process” with the community with regard to the creation of a Marine Park at Cape Byron has been just a formality;
part of a predetermined process prior to declaring the final zoning plans for Cape Byron. I found this out in Parliament Question time on 23rd March when I asked the Minister of Primary Industries to explain his response to another question when he stated he had “got it right” with the sanctuary zone guideline figure with respect to both the Lord Howe Island and Byron Bay sanctuary zones and that “we will be basing our future actions on marine parks on similar sorts of decision making.” This is irrespective of overwhelming community opposition and scientific doubt over the benefits of total no-take areas. The Minister replied, “names on petitions do not necessarily translate to real community support on the issues!” Therefore I can only conclude the 6000+ submissions including my own were futile.
We now know that the 30% figure is the benchmark for future marine parks: irrespective of the fact that fisheries management thinking has evolved to a point where most marine scientists and international scientific bodies are questioning the benefits of no-take areas. There is no turning back, no compromise and no room for consideration of new research findings on the extremists agenda. It seems clear the Government is carrying out a long term strategy of killing off recreational fishing: on June 2nd the Government declared increases in recreational fishing licence fees for both fresh and saltwater anglers!! This is nothing short of war by attrition on recreational fisherman! So it’s going to cost more just to be able to “wet a line” in NSW: under the pretence of using these revenues for “maintaining” fishing havens (which incidentally are being systematically reduced) as well as using this money to buy out the commercial operators. In response to my question in Parliament on March 23rd the Hon. Ian McDonald stated, “$4.3 million will be available for a commercial buy-out in that park.” Now we know how; the Government is taking from Peter (recreational fishermen) to give to Paul (commercial fishermen)
and then banning them BOTH!!