15 June 2016
5000 submissions call for a marine park for Sydney
The Sydney community has strongly backed a marine park for Sydney, with about 5,000 submissions supporting the initiative as part of the NSW Government’s Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion Assessment. [1]
The assessment is considering ways to enhance marine biodiversity in the area between Newcastle and Wollongong. The proposal for a marine park is one of a suite of initiatives that includes proposals to reduce pollution in waterways and restore important fish habitat.
“People in NSW overwhelmingly want the Baird government to create a marine park for the Sydney region, which would include fully protected marine sanctuaries like Shelly Beach at Manly,” said Australia Marine Conservation Society spokesperson Fiona McCuaig.
“Shelly Beach has abundant marine life, including giant cuttlefish, schools of hundreds of yellow tail and large gropers. It’s an example of what many other parts of the Sydney coastline could be like with better protections for our marine life in a large-scale marine park.”
NSW Nature Conservation Council Campaigns Director Daisy Barham said: “People clearly understand the need for better protections to preserve our marine life and the coastal lifestyles that make the Sydney region such a great place to live.
“A marine park would be science-based and multi-user allowing fishing and other activities while fully protecting some areas for conservation and to ensure fish for the future.”
NSW National Parks Association CEO Kevin Evans said: “The results of the submission process reflect surveys and polls that have consistently shown more than 80% of the public, including recreational fishers, support marine parks and marine sanctuaries. [2]
“The Premier is known for his strong support for the marine environment so we are calling on him to honour the public process and the strong support of the scientific community by establishing the state’s seventh marine park in the Sydney region.”
The government is considering submissions and is expected to announce in August how it intends to progress the issue.
References
[1] http://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/hawkesbury-shelf-marine-assessment
[2] January 2014 Galaxy poll of 1007 residents across NSW. 93% of respondents supported marine sanctuary free from fishing including 91% of recreational fishers. Other surveys commissioned by the NSW Government has shown support for marine parks greater than 80% in local communities around the Batemans and Solitary Islands Marine Parks.
Tags
Marine Conservation
Let others know about this issue