3 September 2018
Public support for protecting Sydney’s ocean waters and marine life soars up to 90%
Public support for marine conservation in some coastal electorates has reached almost 90% after the NSW Government announced plans last week for a multi-zone marine park in 25 locations between Newcastle and Wollongong.
A ReachTEL poll conducted on Monday last week (August 27) found overwhelming support for marine parks as a way of protecting the ocean waters and marine life of the Sydney region. (See polling here.)
Support for the state government acting to protect marine life was greatest in the seat of Manly (89%) and Coogee (87%), but was also very high in the Central Coast seats of Gosford (77%) and Terrigal (76%).
“Contrary to the claims of some lobbyists, the vast majority of people support the government's proposed marine park for the Sydney region,” Sydney Marine Park Campaign spokesperson Sharnie Connell said.
“In fact, the polling shows the government has massively underestimated how much protection people want for our ocean waters and marine life.
“Most people polled last week in coastal electorates said they wanted at least 10% of the region’s waters designated no-take sanctuary zones.
“That is four times more than the 2.4% of sanctuary zones proposed in the NSW Government’s Sydney Marine Park plan.
“It just shows that the public has a big vision for marine conservation in the Sydney region and they want their government to act decisively to protect our oceans for everyone.
“Significantly, between 16% and 32% of those polled self-identified as recreational fishers.”
The poll also found that people in those electorates would be more likely to vote for candidates and parties who supported increasing marine protections.
QUESTIONS
Q: Thinking of the [Eastern Suburbs/Manly/Central Coast] area where you live, do you support or oppose the NSW Government acting to protect the ocean waters and marine life along this part of the coast?
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Coogee
All support: 87%
All oppose: 10.5%
Manly
All support: 89.5%
All opposed: 7.3%
|
Gosford
All support: 76.9%
All opposed: 16.2%
Terrigal
All support: 75.7%
All opposed: 17.3%
|
Q: How much of the ocean waters in the [Eastern Suburbs/Manly/Central Coast] area do you think should be fully protected in sanctuary zones?
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Coogee
None 10.6%
Less than 10% 6.1%
Between 10% & 30% 28.3%
More than 30% 54.9%
Manly
None 5.9%
Less than 10% 11.1%
Between 10% & 30% 28.0%
More than 30% 54.9%
|
Gosford
None 12.2%
Less than 10% 16.5%
Between 10% & 30% 35.9%
More than 30% 35.4%
Terrigal
None 9.5%
Less than 10% 17.7%
Between 10% & 30% 36.1%
More than 30% 36.7%
|
Source: ReachTEL survey.
ABOUT MARINE PARKS
NSW marine parks are multiple-use and allow a range of activities including recreational fishing, commercial fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling and swimming across the region. The activities allowed are determined by zoning arrangements developed through community consultation.
When the marine park for the Sydney region is fully established, NSW will have seven coastal and offshore marine parks. The others include Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens, Jervis Bay, Batemans and Lord Howe.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
The Sydney Marine Park campaign is a joint project of the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
Tags
Marine Conservation
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