The Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance has also asked ALL our local Candidates/Parties the following Questions and will post the responses to these 1st thing tomorrow morning.
Dear ..........
We are writing to you to confirm your position recreational fishing related issues effecting the Fraser Coast.
Visitor Expenditure generated through Recreational Fishing in the Fraser Coast equates to approximately $39 million per annum figure. It is important to note that this figure is based on visitors only, and it does not take into account the value generated by recreational fishing by keen fisherman who reside within the Fraser Coast - this figure would be significant.
The figure of $39 million is compiled by the International Visitor Survey (IVS) and the National Visitor Survey (NVS) which is collated by Tourism Research Australia. This data is then distributed to the State Tourism Organisations and then distributed to the regional tourism organisations.
Through the Fraser Coast Destination Tourism Plan, it is estimated that if the Fraser Coast is to increase its share of the Queensland recreational fishing market by 8% by the year 2020, the value of visitor expenditure generated purely through recreational fishing would equate to approximately $107 million per annum by the year 2020. Again this does not include local expenditure – purely visitors. Information C- Fraser Coast opportunities .
We need our decision makers to truly realise the value of recreational fishing both socially and economically and “correct” our Great Sandy Marine Park by fairly compensating the commercial fishers to be removed and make our GSMP a NET FREE AREA !
The follow is also a questionnaire that we would appreciate your response on at your earliest convenience please. All responses will be then shared with our full membership and contact lists.
Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance Inc & the Queensland Recreational Fishers Network
Weipa, Cooktown, Douglas Region, Cairns, Mackay, Keppel region, Fraser Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay
And The Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance Inc.
We note the calling of a snap election for January 31. As a Queensland wide association of regional recreational fisher groups reporting to a large e-network and membership, we request urgent information to assist voters to decide who they’ll vote for.
Queensland has a strong and undeniable history of over allocation in all of its commercial fisheries dating back decades. Depletion of fish stock has diminished community involvement in healthy fishing activities and almost annihilated tourism opportunities.
From a recreational fisher point of view, last election was marked with the bi-partisan recognition that the commercial net fishery was heavily over allocated resulting in diminished fishing profits and reduced fish stocks causing community unrest. Election promises were made after an agreement was reached and signed off on between SUNFISH, QSIA, WWF and AMPTO, this agreement requesting a 50% reduction of gill net permits.
LABOR offered $12m to reduce the gill net fishery via a buyback. LNP offered a $9m net buyback with a focus on high use recreational areas and areas of high conservation value, plus $1m for better monitoring/enforcement. Other minor party’s also made promises.
LNP honoured the commitment to spend $9m on a net buyback however less than 30% was removed from the fishery (around 117 out of 397) and no focus on high recreational use areas or high environmental importance areas (which was a key element of the original election promise) was attempted.
Q/ LNP
It is clear that the election commitment made previously has only been partially completed. Please comment on this and perhaps make direction as to where your party would head on this issue if elected.
Q/ LNP
consultants (MRAG) recently completed an extensive review of Qld’s Fisheries and that report has been handed to LNP. QRFN supports this review and it is of major interest to stakeholders and interested parties. We request that the report and recommendations be publicly released asap along with the LNP intention re implementation. Please comment.
Q/LNP/Candidates
Great Sandy Marine Park ( GSMP ) is THE ONLY marine park in Australia ( possibly the world) that allows commercial netting to continue in the YELLOW Conservation zones ! What is the LNP’s plan to “correct “ this anomaly ?
Q/ All parties/candidates
How will voting for you benefit recreational fishers if you were successful?
Q/ All parties/candidates
Communities all the way around the Qld coast have repeatedly requested waters close to their community centre be made off limits to gill net fishers. The practice of allowing industrial size gill nets in the middle of towns working right through the barramundi closed season has decimated fish stocks and affected recreational experience and tourism opportunities. There are 11 small areas identified and documented state wide requesting Net Free Areas (NFA’s). Other states and the Northern Territory have long recognised the importance of maintaining healthy fish stocks, Queensland has not. What is your position on this?
QRFN & FCFA will be compiling answers and posting them widely in the last week of January, so a timely response will be appreciated.
Regards
Scott Mitchell
PO Box 1882
Hervey Bay Qld 4655
M 0428 484 499
Chairman FCFA
http://www.frasercoastfishingalliance.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/FraserCoastFishingAlliance
Board member
https://www.keepaustraliafishing.com.au
Committee member
http://www.qrfn.org
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