Submissions flood in as NSW maps out marine park fishing bans

The NSW government has been flooded with submissions relating to plans to lock NSW anglers out of popular fishing spots, the department floating the changes has revealed.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Primary Industries said the proposal to create the marine parks – essentially no-fishing zones – at 25 sites across Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong had already received “thousands of submissions” since the department started accepting them in late August.

“Thousands of submissions have been received, and we're still receiving submissions through several channels,” the spokeswoman said. “It’s not surprising to receive so many.”

The submissions period closes on September 27, the same day that disgruntled recreational anglers are planning to stage a mass protest at Sydney’s Hyde Park in opposition to the proposal.

The department also revealed up to 250 people at a time had attended a series of information sessions organised by the government to explain what the marine park proposal would mean for each of the areas in which they would be created.

“The main focus of these sessions has been letting the local community know about the proposal and how to make a submission,” the spokesperson said. “People attending the booths have had a wide range of viewpoints.”

No changes have been made to the proposed marine park plans since the NSW Government’s August 16 announcement of the initiative. Information gathered from the submissions will help the Department of Primary Industries set the framework for the proposal, which will be considered by the Berejiklian government late this year.

More than 60,000 anglers angered by the plans have flocked to a Facebook page titled “Stop the Lockout” to protest the move.

However, the NSW-based Nature Conservation Council claims that up to 90 percent of voters across four coastal communities polled after the announcement had come out in support of the marine parks plan.

“Contrary to the claims of some lobbyists, the vast majority of people support the government's proposed marine park for the Sydney region,” NCC spokesperson Sharnie Connell said.

“In fact, the polling shows the government has massively underestimated how much protection people want for our ocean waters and marine life.”

Anglers are warming up to the idea that Premier Gladys Berejiklian will roll over many of the proposed changes in the wake of the Wagga Wagga byelection, which saw a massive swing against the incumbent state government.

“Consultation is a good opportunity to get some (outcomes) other than those put forward by the Marine Estate Management Authority,” Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair told The Australian yesterday.

The government is believed to be weighing up whether it will dump some or all of the marine park proposals once the submissions period has closed on September 27.