Vern_Veitch
24-08-2002, 08:59 AM
DATE: 23 August 2002 TO: All Media
BARRIER REEF CLOSURES NOT AN OPTION FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERS
The continuing subliminal campaign by the GBRMPA to gain public acceptance of the closure of 25% of the Reef to recreational fishers, will be met by a massive campaign and even open revolt, according to the Mayor of Cairns, Cr Kevin Byrne.
Cr Byrne said he was astounded by the measures being put forward as justification for the proposed closures.
“The Chair of GBRMPA, Ms Virginia Chadwick has stated publicly that she is intent on the 25% option, because it was declared policy of all parties at the last federal election. Well, that’s a significant point of debate, as I never heard any such policy being espoused by either side of politics – and I keep a pretty close ear to the ground on these matters.”
“They then promote someone like Mr Billy Causey from Florida to come out and espouse their cause at the so called ‘World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas’. Of course Mr Causey would promote the concept, as he manages one such area. But what he fails to tell us, and what GBRMPA doesn’t want us to know, is that Florida Keys has just 7% locked up. We already have 5%, so why the manic intent on locking up a further 20%?” Cr Byrne asked.
Cr Byrne said the concept being promoted by GBRMPA, that more and bigger fish would be caught in the remaining areas was an absolute fallacy.
“The fact is the opposite will occur. As more fishers congregate on less open reef, the pressures will intensify. That will lead to reduced capacity, which will in turn lead to more calls for further closures, until the entire Marine Park area will become an ideological battleground.” Cr Byrne said.
“In fact, if the World Wildlife Fund has its way, that will happen in the immediate future, as their spokesperson, Imogen Zethoven said on SBS on 8 August, ‘We should start from a starting point of saying why not 100% protected?”
“It appears the case being put forward by GBRMPA is that “closure takes the guesswork out of it (management)”, as suggested by Mr Causey.”
“If that’s the case, and if that’s where the sympathies of GBRMPA lie, then there will be open revolt amongst the many hundreds of thousands of recreational fishers across North Queensland.” Cr Byrne said.
CR Byrne said the significant degradation being caused to the Marine Park by commercial live fishing and trawl operators was the primary direction in which the authorities should be headed.
“For every coral trout taken by a recreational fisher across the Marine Park, the live fish industry takes five, which amounted last year to some 1580 tonnes. In addition, they take an untold amount of by catch from across the range of reef fish species. This is where the element of unsustainability exists. It is in this area that authorities should be addressing significant change.” Cr Byrne said.
Cr Byrne said ‘the removal of human interaction’ far from being ‘exciting’ was simply a lazy and scientifically sloppy approach to Marine Park management.
“What GBRMPA and the Ministerial Council need to do, is to accept that real and sustainable management practices need to be introduced; but these need to be developed in consultation with the people who have the impact thrust upon them, which are all those hundreds of thousands of people who live in coastal townships from Wide Bay in southern Queensland, to the towns of Far North Queensland.” Cr Byrne said.
“We need to look at practices such as bag limits, seasonal spawning closures and limited take zones. These will do much more in practice, than simply closing 25% of the Reef and thereby placing inordinate pressure on remaining areas.” Cr Byrne said.
Ends
We need a few more local councils like this.
Vern
BARRIER REEF CLOSURES NOT AN OPTION FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERS
The continuing subliminal campaign by the GBRMPA to gain public acceptance of the closure of 25% of the Reef to recreational fishers, will be met by a massive campaign and even open revolt, according to the Mayor of Cairns, Cr Kevin Byrne.
Cr Byrne said he was astounded by the measures being put forward as justification for the proposed closures.
“The Chair of GBRMPA, Ms Virginia Chadwick has stated publicly that she is intent on the 25% option, because it was declared policy of all parties at the last federal election. Well, that’s a significant point of debate, as I never heard any such policy being espoused by either side of politics – and I keep a pretty close ear to the ground on these matters.”
“They then promote someone like Mr Billy Causey from Florida to come out and espouse their cause at the so called ‘World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas’. Of course Mr Causey would promote the concept, as he manages one such area. But what he fails to tell us, and what GBRMPA doesn’t want us to know, is that Florida Keys has just 7% locked up. We already have 5%, so why the manic intent on locking up a further 20%?” Cr Byrne asked.
Cr Byrne said the concept being promoted by GBRMPA, that more and bigger fish would be caught in the remaining areas was an absolute fallacy.
“The fact is the opposite will occur. As more fishers congregate on less open reef, the pressures will intensify. That will lead to reduced capacity, which will in turn lead to more calls for further closures, until the entire Marine Park area will become an ideological battleground.” Cr Byrne said.
“In fact, if the World Wildlife Fund has its way, that will happen in the immediate future, as their spokesperson, Imogen Zethoven said on SBS on 8 August, ‘We should start from a starting point of saying why not 100% protected?”
“It appears the case being put forward by GBRMPA is that “closure takes the guesswork out of it (management)”, as suggested by Mr Causey.”
“If that’s the case, and if that’s where the sympathies of GBRMPA lie, then there will be open revolt amongst the many hundreds of thousands of recreational fishers across North Queensland.” Cr Byrne said.
CR Byrne said the significant degradation being caused to the Marine Park by commercial live fishing and trawl operators was the primary direction in which the authorities should be headed.
“For every coral trout taken by a recreational fisher across the Marine Park, the live fish industry takes five, which amounted last year to some 1580 tonnes. In addition, they take an untold amount of by catch from across the range of reef fish species. This is where the element of unsustainability exists. It is in this area that authorities should be addressing significant change.” Cr Byrne said.
Cr Byrne said ‘the removal of human interaction’ far from being ‘exciting’ was simply a lazy and scientifically sloppy approach to Marine Park management.
“What GBRMPA and the Ministerial Council need to do, is to accept that real and sustainable management practices need to be introduced; but these need to be developed in consultation with the people who have the impact thrust upon them, which are all those hundreds of thousands of people who live in coastal townships from Wide Bay in southern Queensland, to the towns of Far North Queensland.” Cr Byrne said.
“We need to look at practices such as bag limits, seasonal spawning closures and limited take zones. These will do much more in practice, than simply closing 25% of the Reef and thereby placing inordinate pressure on remaining areas.” Cr Byrne said.
Ends
We need a few more local councils like this.
Vern