Calls for more time on marine parks

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is asking the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to extend the period for submissions on the Marine Park Management Plans to 90 days to allow flood and tornado affected Queenslanders to have their say.

Sunfish Queensland Chief Executive Judy Lynne has contacted the ARFF concerned that many thousands of Sunfish Queensland members are affected by the floods and will not be able to get their comments in or are so preoccupied in getting their lives back in order that putting comments into the Government on the Marine Park management plans at this time is the last thing on their mind.

ARFF Managing Director Allan Hansard said: "We have already written to the Minister asking for an extension of the submission period for the Marine Park management plans to 90 days to allow more comprehensive stakeholder consultation on the plans. The Queensland flood situation has exacerbated this and made the issue a critical one.

"Queensland has been inundated by floodwaters and ravaged by storms, playing havoc with the internet, phone networks and the lives of thousands of Queenslanders. This has meant that many Queenslanders are unable to provide their submissions to the Government on this important issue in time.

"This is not the time to play politics and cut the consultation period short. Minister Burke needs to do the right thing by the marine environment and the key stakeholders affected by his plan and extend the consultation period to 90 days immediately."

Coalition Fisheries spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck has also called for an extension of the public consultation period for Labor’s massive Marine Park Areas.

"It is bad enough that Australia’s fishing communities have been given only 30 days to comment on management plans for Environment Minister Tony Burke’s lock-out marine parks,” he said. “Now they are forced to do it while dealing with the effects of catastrophic natural disasters down the east coast.

"Some businesses are affected by more than one zone and to have to get across the detail and comment in just 30 days. That is just not fair," Mr Colbeck added.

Photo above courtesy of Nomad Charters, an excellent long-range sportfishing adventure company destined to be locked out of certain areas.