NEWSFLASH
23-10-2001, 01:20 PM
JOINT STATEMENT - Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area declared
About 2000 hectares of the Bundaberg region's Baffle Creek, recently identified in a review of Australian estuaries as having one of the most pristine estuaries in southern Queensland, has been declared a Fish Habitat Area by the State Government.
Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the area boasts high quality fish habitats within the tidal reaches of the Baffle Creek system, 58 km north of Bundaberg.
Mr Palaszczuk said the declaration of a Fish Habitat Area involved considerable negotiations with stakeholders to determine suitable boundary locations and awareness of future management arrangements.
Queensland now has 74 declared Fish Habitat Areas covering over 700 000 hectares.
The declaration was welcomed by Member for Burnett Trevor Strong.
"The declaration of the Baffle Creek FHA will ensure the high quality fish habitats are maintained and protected from future degradation," Mr Strong said.
"The boundaries of the Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area Plan are acceptable to all state and local authorities, as well as industry and local interest groups," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"The declaration of a Fish Habitat Area does not impose constraints on legal fishing activities or day-to-day community use of the area."
"However, there are constraints for development activities and a management focus on retaining these fish habitats as a public resource, accessible for public use.
"In general, the only new development allowed in the Fish Habitat Area would be public infrastructure that was directly related to fisheries-based activities such as public jetties and boat ramps."
The extensive marine plant, sand bar, narrow creek and rocky outcrop habitats within the Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area function as a nursery, feeding and spawning grounds for a variety of species of importance to the recreational, commercial and traditional fishing sectors.
Barramundi, mangrove jack, flathead, whiting, bream, prawns and mud crabs all habituate the declared area.
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Minister Palaszczuk's office) 0418 197 350
About 2000 hectares of the Bundaberg region's Baffle Creek, recently identified in a review of Australian estuaries as having one of the most pristine estuaries in southern Queensland, has been declared a Fish Habitat Area by the State Government.
Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the area boasts high quality fish habitats within the tidal reaches of the Baffle Creek system, 58 km north of Bundaberg.
Mr Palaszczuk said the declaration of a Fish Habitat Area involved considerable negotiations with stakeholders to determine suitable boundary locations and awareness of future management arrangements.
Queensland now has 74 declared Fish Habitat Areas covering over 700 000 hectares.
The declaration was welcomed by Member for Burnett Trevor Strong.
"The declaration of the Baffle Creek FHA will ensure the high quality fish habitats are maintained and protected from future degradation," Mr Strong said.
"The boundaries of the Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area Plan are acceptable to all state and local authorities, as well as industry and local interest groups," Mr Palaszczuk said.
"The declaration of a Fish Habitat Area does not impose constraints on legal fishing activities or day-to-day community use of the area."
"However, there are constraints for development activities and a management focus on retaining these fish habitats as a public resource, accessible for public use.
"In general, the only new development allowed in the Fish Habitat Area would be public infrastructure that was directly related to fisheries-based activities such as public jetties and boat ramps."
The extensive marine plant, sand bar, narrow creek and rocky outcrop habitats within the Baffle Creek Fish Habitat Area function as a nursery, feeding and spawning grounds for a variety of species of importance to the recreational, commercial and traditional fishing sectors.
Barramundi, mangrove jack, flathead, whiting, bream, prawns and mud crabs all habituate the declared area.
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Minister Palaszczuk's office) 0418 197 350