New Bid To Save Bay

[Shane Boese]

Monday, 26 February 2007
New bid to save Bay
Daniel Hurst

THE Environment Minister has refused to speculate on whether fishing will be banned in large chunks of Moreton Bay in the future, saying she can give no guarantees.
Launching a review of the Moreton Bay marine park, State Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr promised to let science lead the way as the Government looks at measures to protect the Bay for future generations.
She vowed to consult fishermen, boaties, divers, community members and all bay user groups during the review, which must be finalised by 2008.
To kick off the process, public information sessions will be held in Cleveland, Point Lookout and other Moreton Bay communities next month.
Fishermen had voiced concern in the lead-up to last year's State Election after an environmental group called for up to half of the Bay to be protected from fishing.
Speaking to the Bayside Bulletin, Ms Nelson-Carr said no decisions had been made yet and fishermen had nothing to fear from the review.
When asked if large parts of the Bay would be made off-limits to fishing, Ms Nelson-Carr said she would not pre-empt the review process.
"I can't say," she said, promising to consider any relevant evidence.
About 0.5 per cent of the Bay is currently classified as a green zone, where boating access is allowed but fishing activities are banned.
Current green zones include part of the Bay on north-western side of Peel Island and a small area to the east of Russell Island.
As part of the three-stage review, an expert advisory panel headed by Professor Paul Greenfield of the University of Queensland will guide the science behind the review.
A separate reference group will include six members of the Moreton Bay Access Alliance, a recently formed group which has lobbied to keep the Bay open to fishing.
Access Alliance chairman Bruce Alvey said jobs were at stake so the group would fight against "indiscriminate closures".
The Manly-based Australian Marine Conservation Society has welcomed the review, but spokesman Craig Bohm has called for specific conservation targets to be set so that everyone works towards a clear goal.
"We need to know where the goal posts are – what level of protection is needed to make Moreton Bay healthy," he said.
Federal Liberal Member for Bowman Andrew Laming, who turned up at the review launch, said he was concerned the Environmental Protection Agency would dominate the review.
He said the Federal Government would provide a $130,000 grant to help scientists investigate the state of the Bay.
The Bay review explained
How the Moreton Bay review will work:
1. Information gathering stage: An expert advisory panel, a reference group made up of bay user representatives and the community will provide input early-mid 2007.
2. Public consultation stage: A draft zoning plan will be released in late-2007 and the public will be invited to have their say.
3. Final plan: The final zoning plan will be released next year and takes effect from September 1, 2008.
Local information sessions:
* Point Lookout Community Hall – Monday, March 12, from 3.30 to 6.30pm. * Cleveland State High School – Thursday, March 15, from 6 to 8.30pm. Find out more at www.epa.qld.gov.au/moretonbay

[Hunta]

look forward to seeing you there Shane. Is Cleveland the closest meeting for those on the west side of town?

Shirl.

[Shane Boese]

look forward to seeing you there Shane. Is Cleveland the closest meeting for those on the west side of town?

Shirl.

Shirl

There is one at Manly to will get times and dates

Regards
Shane