Anglers call for park report

NSW recreational anglers are calling for the release of an independent report on line fishing in marine park sanctuary zones.

In a recent press release, the Managing Director of the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, Allan Hansard said an ‘expert panel’ was commissioned by the Government more than a year ago to investigate the effects of line fishing from beaches and rocky headlands in the state’s marine parks network. The report was submitted to Cabinet early this year, but has not yet been made public.

"It is vital the independent report be released as swiftly as possible," Hansard said.

"The misinformation and scare tactics being used by anti-fishing groups have gone on for long enough. It’s time now for the science to be revealed, and start understanding and improving the management of our marine environment.

"We don’t know what the report has to say. But we support a science-based approach to these issues and are committed to management of our fisheries resources to be based on science.

"If the science in the independent report clearly shows that line fishing from beaches or rocky headlands poses unacceptable risks to our environment, we would obviously accept the need to limit, modify or restrict fishing activities. Likewise, if the science revealed that there were few or no risks, we’d expect the Government and the anti-fishing activists to support the continuation of sustainable recreational fishing activities within these existing sanctuary zones covered by the moratorium.

"It’s time now that the report’s finding be released so that we can institute the appropriate policy and management responses. Again, the recreational fishing community is completely upfront about being committed to science-based management of our fisheries. But we need to know what the science is. Thus NSW’s recreational fishing community is calling for Premier Mike Baird, Environment Minister Rob Stokes and Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson to immediately release the expert panel’s findings." Mr Hansard said.