3 March, 2014
Marine parks under threat during Parks Week
The state’s marine life has not been invited to the party to celebrate Parks Week (March 3-9) in New South Wales.
Instead, the O’Farrell government is considering revoking high-level protections for some of the most important fish nurseries and marine conservation areas left in the state.
In March 2013, the government announced an amnesty on illegal fishing from the shore in many marine sanctuaries.
The move was supposed to be temporary, but the government is now under intense pressure from extreme elements in the fishing lobby to make it permanent, despite wide spread support for sanctuaries amongst fishers.
“It is ironic that the government is promoting parks as draw cards for tourists and visitors on the one hand while considering ripping away protections in marine areas on the other,” said Nature Conservation Council Marine Campaigner Daisy Barham.
“In the coming weeks, the government is set to decide whether to permanently revoke protection for marine sanctuaries despite the fact they are increasing marine life and helping draw tourists to many regional centres.
“We are concerned the minister will remove protection for iconic destinations like Byron Bay, Port Stephens and the Jervis and Batemans Bay areas.
“Removing this protection is not only risking our environment, it’s deeply unpopular.”
A Galaxy Research poll of more than 1000 NSW residents in January 2014 found 93 per cent of people support marine sanctuaries and that 70 per cent opposed allowing fishing in these areas.
“Allowing fishing in marine sanctuaries is like revoking national parks,” Ms Barham said.
“It simply does not make sense to do this at a time when pressures on the marine environment are intensifying. Less than 7 per cent of the state’s waters were protected in sanctuaries before this decision, soon there could be even less.”
Parks Week runs from March 3-9th and is a national initiative which celebrates the important role that protected areas like national parks and marine parks play in contributing to the health of communities and protecting our natural environment.
Images and footage available upon request.
Tags
Marine Conservation
Let others know about this issue