Recreational anglers call for super trawler Bill to pass
Peak fishing body calls for bipartisan supportThe Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), the peak body for the recreational fishing community in Australia, has called on all political parties to support the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Declared Fishing Activities) Bill 2012 through the Senate.
"It is clear that this Bill needs to pass so that we can have the appropriate time to build the science and the management of our small pelagic fisheries before a decision on how they are fished is made," ARFF spokesman Allan Hansard said today.
"Unless we do so we are flying in the dark and cannot determine whether exploiting this fishery will have a detrimental effect on the marine food chain, existing commercial and recreational fishing activities or local communities.
"Getting this Amendment through the Senate is also essential to reconfirm the sustainability of the fishery, particularly in relation to the issue of localised depletion.
"We hope this support by the various political parties is genuine and will transfer through to passing the Bill unchanged through the Senate. We also expect Parliament to heed calls by the recreational fishing community to not unjustly to lock us out of the Federal Government’s proposed marine national parks," Mr Hansard concluded.
Photos: Greenpeace
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
