PRESS RELEASE 11-07-03

 World Renown Scientist Dr Walter Starck PHD.

“Expansion of green Zones is a political cheap shot.”

 Dr Walter Starck said today, “The proposed expansion of green zones on the GBR is a hypothetical solution to an imaginary problem.  Over 90% of the GBR is already a green zone in that it is rarely visited and fishing pressure is so low as to be effectively non-existent.  The claim of over fishing is not simply an overstatement it’s absurd. The total commercial and recreational catch only comes to some 6000 tonns/ year or an average of about 17 Kg/Km².  This is less than 1% of the yield of beef from good grazing land or of what reefs elsewhere can and do sustain.  Extensive and expensive underwater surveys of coral trout populations funded by GBRMPA show no evidence of depletion.  Why have these not been published?”

 He also stated “Green zones are appropriate where fishing pressure is intense enough to significantly reduce breeding populations. Where fewer juvenile recruits are available than an area will sustain a protected breeding stock can make a significant difference.  However, where fishing pressure is low, as on the GBR, reproductive capacity of breeding stocks far exceeds suitable habitat available for new recruits. Increasing this excess capacity by some small amount is meaningless. All that more green zones here can achieve is to increase fishing pressure on the open reefs.”

 Dr Starck said, “Expansion of green zones is a political cheap shot.” “ It’s easy, attracts attention, saving the reef is always popular, and with no real problem to begin with everything is in place for it to be declared another shining example of successful reef management. They might as well be managing the moon.”

 Brian Pickup  today welcomed Dr .Starck’s  support. He said “I have been contacted and given advices off the record by people in the know who do not want their names published, however I now hope more will follow Dr Starck’s lead and speak out publicly on the effects of line fishing on the Reef.”

Or for more information Contact Brian Pickup  ph 0427 374022
or Arthur Dobe PR 0419 752252

For more information on Dr Walter Starck PHD.
Go to http://www.goldendolphin.com/wstarck.htm