Next Park ??

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Guess you are aware of this one KC.
Any more info (anyone)?
Cheers
Jeff

ABC article:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1308029.htm
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Gulf marine green zone 'a fair way off'
Federal Fisheries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald says no decision will be made to place a marine green zone in the Gulf of Carpentaria until all stakeholders have been consulted.

Several areas in Commonwealth waters have been identified by the Government for protection, which would mean restricting access to everyone except researchers with permits.

Senator Macdonald says it has not been determined if the Gulf will be one of those.

He says the Queensland and Northern Territory governments, as well as industry and Indigenous groups, will have to be consulted.

"It's a long and involved and very consultative process," he said.

"No decisions will be made until such time as all relevant stakeholders, particularly recreational and commercial fisheries, have been consulted.

"It will then come before the Government before any decision is made, so it's a fair way off."

Senator Macdonald says it could be done in a way that would not impact on commercial or recreational fishing in the Northern Territory.

"I'm not sure they can be fully cognisant with what is exactly proposed," he said.

"Marine protected areas are a good idea if they are done sensibly and with full consultation with the industry and I'm sure it's something most Territorians would agree with if they understood the process."


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[kc]

Hi Jeff,

This was announced in Canberra at the Recfish conference before Christmas, it is just starting to leak through into the mainstream press.

It was made pretty clear that within an unspecified time frame, 30% of all Australian waters will be green zoned and another whole whack will be yellow zones.

In the right location, with the right science and WHEN fish stocks are under pressure No Take Areas can and do have long term benifits.
When a fish stock is NOT under pressure, when a fishery (AKA the Northern Territory) is well managed, when biodiversity is not under threat or when the location of green zones are more to do with courting green politics (AKA the Great Barrier Reef debacle) then they are not worthy of support.

It is all well and good for McDonald to start tap dancing....this is as a result of the uproar this announcement has caused in NT. Minister Campbell is full steam ahead with this and other zonings and made it clear at the Recfish conference.....NT & the gulf are next on the "hit list".

Why?? Because bugger all people live up there and just like in NQ....that means not many votes while the Gov't plays the environmental card in the Southern capitals.

This is politics, pure and simple and very little do do with best environmental outcomes.

Take a virtually untouched fishery and lock it up while fisheries near major centres, which are under all sorts of pressure, are left alone!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmmmmmmm

KC

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Thanks KC.
Good to see the issue actually made the mainstream press, I guess.
Thanks for the additional info. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Cheers
Jeff

[nonibbles]

It seems to me that environmental policy is enacted the same way that Eagle Boys spread their franchises very successfully. They established themselves in many areas but not the capital cities first. It was then obvious over time that they had been accepted then they moved on the capital cities. Same tactics for these policies I guess. Set the precedent elsewhere, then hit the riskier market.
The majority of capital city folk are so apathetic to the issues not yet effecting their circle that they don't seem to realise that these battles WILL effect them if they don't get active as well. And early in the process too.
They will be in seige mentallity by the time they are directly effected. Particularly if the RAP process is deemed to be all above board by the current examination of the process involved. Hopefully, the EPA sets the benchmark with its handling of the GSS issue and actually does listen to the concerns of all stakeholders and actually gives up some ground where they clearly don't have any argument (unlike GBRMPA)