Fitzy
21-08-2002, 06:51 PM
The following is a copy of a press release from Qld DPI minister. August 15, 2002.
One million hectare target for protected fish habitat areas
The Queensland Government plans to increase the marine and freshwater fish habitats protected under Fish Habitat Area (FHA) declarations to one million hectares over the next two years, State Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today.
Speaking at the World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas in Cairns today, Mr Palaszczuk said FHAs protect important nursery and feeding grounds for the fish stocks of a region and usually also contain important recreational and commercial fishing grounds.
"A Fish Habitat Area may be declared in marine and freshwater environments to protect important juvenile and adult fish habitats. These habitats include sand bars, shallow water areas, undercut banks, snags, rocky outcrops, pools, riffles, seagrass beds, mangrove stands and yabby banks."
"Fish Habitat Areas currently cover more than 710,000 hectares in Queensland. The Department of Primary Industries' Queensland Fisheries Service anticipates that this area will increase to one million hectares by the end of 2004," Mr Palaszczuk said.
The proposed new Fish Habitat Areas are in Elliott River south of Bundaberg, Fitzroy River delta in the Rockhampton region, Edgecumbe Bay near Bowen, Annan River near Cooktown and three areas in Cape York - Starke River, Margaret Bay and Kirke-Love System.
"The declaration of a Fish Habitat Area involves considerable negotiations with stakeholders to determine suitable boundary locations and awareness of future management arrangements," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"A Fish Habitat Area does not impose constraints on legal fishing activities or the day-to-day community use of the area."
"However, there are constraints on development while maintaining fish habitats as a public resource accessible for public use."
"In general, the only new development allowed in a FHA is public infrastructure that is directly related to fisheries based activities such as public jetties and boat ramps."
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (0418) 197 350
One million hectare target for protected fish habitat areas
The Queensland Government plans to increase the marine and freshwater fish habitats protected under Fish Habitat Area (FHA) declarations to one million hectares over the next two years, State Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today.
Speaking at the World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas in Cairns today, Mr Palaszczuk said FHAs protect important nursery and feeding grounds for the fish stocks of a region and usually also contain important recreational and commercial fishing grounds.
"A Fish Habitat Area may be declared in marine and freshwater environments to protect important juvenile and adult fish habitats. These habitats include sand bars, shallow water areas, undercut banks, snags, rocky outcrops, pools, riffles, seagrass beds, mangrove stands and yabby banks."
"Fish Habitat Areas currently cover more than 710,000 hectares in Queensland. The Department of Primary Industries' Queensland Fisheries Service anticipates that this area will increase to one million hectares by the end of 2004," Mr Palaszczuk said.
The proposed new Fish Habitat Areas are in Elliott River south of Bundaberg, Fitzroy River delta in the Rockhampton region, Edgecumbe Bay near Bowen, Annan River near Cooktown and three areas in Cape York - Starke River, Margaret Bay and Kirke-Love System.
"The declaration of a Fish Habitat Area involves considerable negotiations with stakeholders to determine suitable boundary locations and awareness of future management arrangements," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"A Fish Habitat Area does not impose constraints on legal fishing activities or the day-to-day community use of the area."
"However, there are constraints on development while maintaining fish habitats as a public resource accessible for public use."
"In general, the only new development allowed in a FHA is public infrastructure that is directly related to fisheries based activities such as public jetties and boat ramps."
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (0418) 197 350