15 August, 2014
Ruling out netting in sensitive estuaries is a victory for common sense and marine conservation
The NSW Nature Conservation Council has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to retain a ban on commercial netting in sensitive creeks and estuaries, including some in national parks. [1]
Many coastal communities were alarmed by a proposal in the Report of Commercial Fisheries Policy, Management and Administration to allow commercial netting in some of the state’s most important estuaries, including:
- Estuary Area Region Cudgen Creek, Tweed area, North Coast
- Evans River, Evans Head area, North Coast
- Jerusalem Creek (Bundjalung National Park), between Evans Head and Yamba, North Coast
- Mooball Creek, north of Brunswick Heads, North Coast
- Bonville and Pine Creeks (Bongil Bongil National Park), Coffs Harbour region, Mid-north Coast
- Newports and Boambee Creeks, south of Coffs Harbour, Mid-north coast
- Patonga Creek, Central Coast
- Wallagoot Lake (Bournda National Park), Tathra area, South Coast
- Wapengo Lake, Tathra area, South Coast
- Bournda Lagoon and Sandy Beach Creek (Bournda National Park), Tathra area, South Coast
- Merimbula Lake, South Coast
“Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson’s announcement today is a victory for coastal marine life and all those people who love the coastal environment,” said Nature Conservation Council Campaigns Director Daisy Barham.
“The areas slated for commercial netting were some of the most popular fishing spots in NSW, and are vital nurseries for near-shore fish stocks.
“Some of the waterways under threat were actually inside national parks. This proposal should never have been on the table.
“Commercial netting has no place in our national parks and sensitive estuaries – today the minister has acknowledged that.
“Now this is off the table it will allow stakeholders to focus on positive and long overdue fisheries reform that will ensure the fishing industry in NSW is both profitable and sustainable well into the future.”
REFERENCES
[1] http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/526280/media_release_140814_concerns_mesh_netting.pdf MEDIA
BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the state government has been reviewing the structure of commercial fisheries in NSW.
They commissioned an Independent Report of Commercial Fisheries Policy, Management and Administration, which released in May 2012.
The report, which contained 22 key recommendations, is available here. The proposed reforms aim primarily to improve the financial viability of the commercial fishing industry and enhancing the cost recovery of managing state fisheries. Here is a summary of the proposed reforms.
In April 2014, the Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson announced a submission process for commercial fishing operators and the general public to provide comment on the proposed reforms. A timeline of the reform process is here.
Tags
Marine Conservation
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