SUNFISH QLD - MEDIA RELEASE 2/6/2003

 

 

GBRMPA PROPOSE TO SHUT DOWN FISHING AREAS

 

Mr John Doohan, Chairman of SUNFISH Qld representing some 45,000 anglers in Queensland today said that the proposals to protect the reef were welcome but they only discriminated against fishermen. Our position all along has been to support some real protection for the reef & not just a "land grab" to reallocate areas to other users. We believe that protection cannot be achieved when there is unlimited access to tourism operators, diving groups, photographers & a raft of other users he said.

 

The new green areas will only restrict fishing & although the GBRMPA have done a reasonable job to minimise the effect, they were given instructions from the Federal Government to "shut down 20%" of the reef to fishing he said. This will be in addition to the existing tourist islands, offshore platforms & current  green & pink zones which will effectively close down up to 30% of the area. 

 

He said that SUNFISH would be holding the position that any area protection can only be achieved through total closures & we would prefer to see smaller "highly protected no go" zones & protection of larger areas by restricted zoning such as yellow or dark blue.We would also like to be assured that the benefit of these closures is monitored & enforcement is more effective than currently exists Mr Doohan said

 

In some coastal areas anglers would be welcoming the creation of "Yellow" zones where commercial fishing was restricted so "I guess this is a trade off for exclusion from other areas" he said.

 

Our major concern is still that the closures will transfer both commercial & recreational effort into the same areas & increasing conflict will occur he said.

 

The consultation process over the past few years saw only 3000 boat owners voicing their opinion out of the 60,000 in the GBR area & I would encourage eyeryone to have a say now that the "lines have been drawn on the maps" he said.

 

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Contact points :-   Mr John Doohan Chairman 07 33593086

                           Mr David Bateman EO, 07 38804261