jaybee
30-01-2004, 05:27 PM
Sunfish Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE 27/1/2004
Mr Bill Turner Chairman of SUNFISH Qld representing 45,000 recreational fishing members today said that he was horrified to find out that both Federal and State Governments had been involved in the issue of permits to dig up and remove coral in the Great Barrier Reef for the purpose of enhancing degraded tourist areas.
Both Governments are saying they want to protect the reef while “handing out” authorities to dig up coral. This puts the real perspective on why only fishers are to be excluded from so called “high protection green areas” Mr Turner said. It’s what we have said all along - the new zonings covering 33% of the reef are not to protect it
they are just “fishing closures”.
“It would appear that destruction of the reef is OK provided you do it with Govt. support.” he said.
The area from which the coral has been removed is one that has been “touted” world wide as part of a highly protected marine reserve. It looks like a case of get in and “have your chop“ before it is actually declared protected. The area to be rejuvenated is adjacent to a tourist site where fishing has been banned for many years and yet the coral has died.
To make matters worse the conservation and tourist industries were both involved in the approval process for the issue of the permits to dig the reef. So much for the posturing and statements that “tourism has no effect on the reef”.
We have also been told that there are further similar permits being considered.
Sunfish would call on the Federal and State Governments to get serious on effective protection of the Great Barrier Reef instead of just “paying lip service’.
It would be nice if the Federal Environment Minister and the Premier were to announce that no further permits to translocate corals would be issued as a real test of their commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage values.
Our members now have serious doubts about any current or future plans to protect any Marine Areas and tend to wonder just who the reef has to be protected from –
the actual Users or the Custodians.
Contact Points – Mr Bill Turner Chairman 38856589
- Mr David Bateman EO 38804261
MEDIA RELEASE 27/1/2004
Mr Bill Turner Chairman of SUNFISH Qld representing 45,000 recreational fishing members today said that he was horrified to find out that both Federal and State Governments had been involved in the issue of permits to dig up and remove coral in the Great Barrier Reef for the purpose of enhancing degraded tourist areas.
Both Governments are saying they want to protect the reef while “handing out” authorities to dig up coral. This puts the real perspective on why only fishers are to be excluded from so called “high protection green areas” Mr Turner said. It’s what we have said all along - the new zonings covering 33% of the reef are not to protect it
they are just “fishing closures”.
“It would appear that destruction of the reef is OK provided you do it with Govt. support.” he said.
The area from which the coral has been removed is one that has been “touted” world wide as part of a highly protected marine reserve. It looks like a case of get in and “have your chop“ before it is actually declared protected. The area to be rejuvenated is adjacent to a tourist site where fishing has been banned for many years and yet the coral has died.
To make matters worse the conservation and tourist industries were both involved in the approval process for the issue of the permits to dig the reef. So much for the posturing and statements that “tourism has no effect on the reef”.
We have also been told that there are further similar permits being considered.
Sunfish would call on the Federal and State Governments to get serious on effective protection of the Great Barrier Reef instead of just “paying lip service’.
It would be nice if the Federal Environment Minister and the Premier were to announce that no further permits to translocate corals would be issued as a real test of their commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage values.
Our members now have serious doubts about any current or future plans to protect any Marine Areas and tend to wonder just who the reef has to be protected from –
the actual Users or the Custodians.
Contact Points – Mr Bill Turner Chairman 38856589
- Mr David Bateman EO 38804261