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NEWS
Marine reserves rethink
Anglers given a reprieve as management plans scrapped and scientific review announcedThe Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), the peak national organisation representing Australia’s recreational fishing community, has welcomed the announcement by the Coalition Government of a scientific review into the controversial Marine Park plans.
If the new Marine Parks are implemented, as proposed by the previous Labor Government, Australia’s estimated four to five million recreational fishers will be locked out of 1.3 million square kilometres of Australian seas.
ARFF Managing Director, Allan Hansard, said: “We are pleased the Coalition Government has listened to Australia’s recreational fishers and are conducting a scientific review of the proposal, which will give a sensible balance for Australia’s unique marine environment.
"It was clear that the decisions to ‘Lock out’ recreational fishers from vast areas of our seas by the previous Government was not scientifically based and was done to meet a political agenda.
“Australia’s recreational fishers should not be locked out of marine reserves unless, after a thorough comparative assessment with other activities such as diving, tourism and defence activities, there is a good scientific reason to do so," Hansard says.
The Government’s scientific review is expected to take six months and will also result in the redevelopment of the management plans for the marine reserve system.
The previous Government fast tracked the development of the critically important management plans for the marine reserve system in an attempt to get them passed before the election. As a result, recreational fishers, the largest stakeholder user group affected by the reserve system, were not genuinely consulted.
“From discussions we have had with the Government we are confident that this time we will see genuine consultation and engagement with Australia’s recreational fishers and other key stakeholders when the management plans are redeveloped.
“The Coalition Government has delivered on their promise to Australia’s five million recreational fishers. We look forward to working with the Government and other key stakeholder user groups to develop a marine park reserve system that genuinely protects our marine environment that all Australians can be proud of," Hansard said.
Photograph courtesy of Norseman Charters, Port Douglas/Cairns.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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