jaybee
06-12-2003, 11:43 AM
Courier Mail News
Chris Jones and Brendan O'Malley 04dec03
FISHING will be banned on one-third of the Great Barrier Reef within six months under a controversial Howard Government plan to ensure the future sustainability of the marine park.
Landmark legislation tabled by Environment Minister David Kemp in Federal Parliament yesterday would create the largest network of protected marine areas in the world, with fishing to be banned in an area half the size of Victoria.
But recreational anglers were assured they would be kept out of only a few of their favourite haunts, while commercial fishers would lose access to only about one-ninth of their fishing grounds.
Dr Kemp said the zonings were developed because of widespread concerns the Great Barrier Reef was being "loved to death".
He committed the Government to providing "fair and accurate" assistance to those whose livelihoods would be affected. "The impact of this plan we believe is very small indeed and the benefit is going to be that a $4 billion tourist industry is going to be secured for our future . . . and that there will be more fish and larger fish on the Reef," he said.
The zoning plan would boost the current 4.7 per cent of "green" zones to a total of 33.3 per cent.
Trawlers that operate in almost 80 per cent of the marine park would be banned from all except 34 per cent of the park.
Commercial fishermen using only one line would have the same access rights as recreational anglers.
The plan reserved many shoreline areas of the Whitsunday Islands for recreational or single-line fishing, along with the northwestern corner of Hinchinbrook Island, a region south of Port Douglas and much of popular Bowling Green Bay southeast of Townsville.
"Green" no-fishing zones covered many tourist reefs and islands off Cairns and a significant section of the Swains reefs off Yeppoon.
Chris Jones and Brendan O'Malley 04dec03
FISHING will be banned on one-third of the Great Barrier Reef within six months under a controversial Howard Government plan to ensure the future sustainability of the marine park.
Landmark legislation tabled by Environment Minister David Kemp in Federal Parliament yesterday would create the largest network of protected marine areas in the world, with fishing to be banned in an area half the size of Victoria.
But recreational anglers were assured they would be kept out of only a few of their favourite haunts, while commercial fishers would lose access to only about one-ninth of their fishing grounds.
Dr Kemp said the zonings were developed because of widespread concerns the Great Barrier Reef was being "loved to death".
He committed the Government to providing "fair and accurate" assistance to those whose livelihoods would be affected. "The impact of this plan we believe is very small indeed and the benefit is going to be that a $4 billion tourist industry is going to be secured for our future . . . and that there will be more fish and larger fish on the Reef," he said.
The zoning plan would boost the current 4.7 per cent of "green" zones to a total of 33.3 per cent.
Trawlers that operate in almost 80 per cent of the marine park would be banned from all except 34 per cent of the park.
Commercial fishermen using only one line would have the same access rights as recreational anglers.
The plan reserved many shoreline areas of the Whitsunday Islands for recreational or single-line fishing, along with the northwestern corner of Hinchinbrook Island, a region south of Port Douglas and much of popular Bowling Green Bay southeast of Townsville.
"Green" no-fishing zones covered many tourist reefs and islands off Cairns and a significant section of the Swains reefs off Yeppoon.