"Backdoor Ban on Fishing in Moreton Bay"

[Chris Ryan]

Read this - look at the last couple of lines particularly. Even McNamara is believing his own hype now. It seems the Labor guys are distancing themselves from the Precautionary Principle and now basing their work on science???? WTF??

Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
26/10/2008
Ban to protect Moreton Bay fish stocks
The Bligh Government will ban "backdoor" commercial fishing in the Moreton Bay marine park to ensure green zones deliver a boom in fish stocks.
In a move backed by the commercial fishing lobby and green groups, commercial fishers will be banned from Moreton Bay for five years if they surrender their licence under the Government $15.1million buyback scheme.
The only way around the ban is to buy a licence from someone already operating in the bay - not from elsewhere in Queensland.
"It means you can't take the taxpayer's money for your licence then come in through the backdoor," Ms Bligh said.
"This will mean a real reduction in commercial fishing in the bay. There will be more fish for ordinary anglers and commercial fishers will have less competition.
"We have spoken to the commercial fishers on the bay and they agree it's a better deal for everyone."
Australian Marine Conservation Society campaigns director Craig Bohm said his organisation supported the buy-back rules: "We support the intent of this initiative, which is to remove real commercial fishing effort in Moreton Bay Marine Park."
That position is backed by the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, whose spokesman Simon Balitas said: "The initiative is the first step in an urgent need to reduce commercial fishing effort in the Moreton Bay Marine Park."
Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara said the Government estimates about 100 of the 430 commercial operators will give up their licence.
The Bligh Government last week announced a huge increase in "green zones" - up from 0.5% to 16% - in which fishing is not allowed. This followed the recommendations of an independent scientific panel.
"This is the greatest environmental initiative in the bay's history and it is based purely on science - no emotion, no politics," Mr McNamara said.
"It means our grandkids will be catching fish in the bay."

Media: 0439 761 416

[Lovey80]

Independant scientific panel? If that panel had decided that greenzones were not the answer they would have found a new panel. These guys were hand picked for sure. However I do support this move as it is pointless to buy out comercial fisho's only to have them start back up.

Cheers

Chris

[samson]

The only problem with this buyback is if you make them an offer for your licence and its excepted its not just moreton bay its the waters to the north up to the barwons and the south to the seaway which means if you give in you won't ever be fishing these areas again for at least 5 years or ever, those offers better be big or it ain't worth it.

[Chris Ryan]

Samson I too hope they are fair values for the licenses and this is not another sham in the same way they pay for reclaimed land.

[tunaticer]

I seem to recall that the last buyback of commercial lisences in SEQ totalled a hell of a lot more than $15.1m and that still was not enough. Are they trying to buy out less this time or is it more a media stunt faced for the green factor?

Jack.

[Chris Ryan]

Well Jack, with this, the RRFF review, the Cooloola thing, the Scallop Recover area thing, and the quick actions being taken against the river health card......I reckon we are aiming for an election before this year is out.

[CreelReaper]

Chris,
Those last few sentences is the reason why I believe that it is more prudent to alert the general public about the deficiencies of the 'said scientific research'. It is a back room deal and nothing more. Everything else is just a smoke screen and a 'feel' good exercise by the government. We should be collating as much of the 'scientific evidence' they have used and use it against them.

Cheers

Shane

[Chris Ryan]

I agree Shane. We need to act as teachers not preachers to the general public.

[Noelm]

what it comes down to is quite simple, they have scientific evidence (however it was derived) we have bugger all? there just is no argument, emotion, right or wrong, loud voices will never win without any of our own "scientific" evidence! no one cares if your personal secret spot is under threat of closure, some spin doctor can stand up with a handful of "papers" and cry about Whales or Dolphins, or murdering Fishos, and will win every time.

[Chris Ryan]

I agree wholeheartedly Noel that without science there is no arguement. We have a heap of scientific papers against zoning etc, about the lack of spill over effect and more. The MBAA had commissioned a heap of science too.

The key difference is marketing and money. They have it and do it very very well, we don't have anything except a very very small band of people trying to do their best with what they can afford themselves.

Chris

[Moonlighter]

Guys

What wasn't said here was that the Govt had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table by the MBSIA to make them see sense in the way this structural adjustment process would need to be conducted if it was actually going to be effective. Real doubts about whether the $14.1M will be anywhere near enough to buy back enough licences.

Simon and Craig and the other greenies should pull their heads in - they were never in support of this because they simply have no understanding of how the licensing system works or how commercial operators go about their business. Wallies.

Grrrrrrrrr.....


Grant