Shark anglers force backdown

[Gad]

Recieved this in a Fishing World Newsletter E-mail today.

cheers Gad

Shark anglers force backdown

28 Jan 2010

In the wake of mounting opposition, recreational fishers will continue to be allowed to catch mako sharks under changes to Federal Government laws. As has been widely reported at Fisho, fishing for short-finned mako sharks in Australia was due to be banned last Friday because Australia was a signatory to an international treaty, the Convention on Migratory Species.

The UN-sponsored treaty, which aims to protect migratory animals, fish and birds, ordered the ban on mako shark fishing because of a decline in mako shark numbers in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Growing opposition from game fishing clubs and individual recreational anglers, who had rightly argued the population of makos off Australia's east coast was considered healthy, had been backed by marine scientists.

"Banning fishing for them here would do absolutely nothing to help those sharks in the northern hemisphere - there's no migration between them at all," said marine scientist Dr Julian Pepperell.

As a result of the growing opposition, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he would allow catch & release fishing for makos after the international ban came into effect on Friday.

Federal Coalition spokesman for Fisheries Senator Richard Colbeck had vocally opposed the bans and said Minister Garrett’s long overdue backdown was the result of an extensive campaign.

“The mako shark fishing backdown is a win for grassroots politics,†Senator Colbeck said.

“My office has received over 5000 petition signatures calling on Minister Garrett to postpone the ban and conduct genuine consultation with recreational fishing groups. Hundreds have also joined packed public meetings on the issue."

Not all stakeholder groups received the news of the ban backdown well.

Director for the Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides stated in a press release, “Relying on fringe groups to advise on the fishing industry is akin to asking the fox to advise on hen house security.â€

"Australia's national environment legislation (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999) cannot be watered down on a whim to pander to the wishes of the recreational and charter fishing sector," said Kindleysides.

While catch & release for makos is legal the killing of the sharks is not - until the law is changed, expected to take place when Federal Parliament sits next month.

[Gad]

Gad wrote:

Director for the Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides stated in a press release, “Relying on fringe groups to advise on the fishing industry is akin to asking the fox to advise on hen house security.â€.

:ohmy: I`m a member of a fringe group,..a rec fisho..cry me a river tree hugger.

[ellicat]

Gad wrote:

Recieved this in a Fishing World Newsletter E-mail today.

cheers Gad

Shark anglers force backdown

28 Jan 2010

In the wake of mounting opposition, ......

Not all stakeholder groups received the news of the ban backdown well.

Director for the Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides stated in a press release, “Relying on fringe groups to advise on the fishing industry is akin to asking the fox to advise on hen house security.â€

"Australia's national environment legislation (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999) cannot be watered down on a whim to pander to the wishes of the recreational and charter fishing sector," said Kindleysides.

......

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I'll "kindly side" :silly: with Garrett and Colbeck on this one.

The fox is much more likely to know more about the chickens than the pixies in the bottom of the garden or even the green snake :whistle:

This reaction has me irrationally happy and laughing, like a last minute Qld try at Origin :woohoo: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Feral]

Gad wrote:

Director for the Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides stated in a press release, “Relying on fringe groups to advise on the fishing industry is akin to asking the fox to advise on hen house security.â€

I totally agree, that's why the Govt should pay absolutely no attention to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Greenpeace, Peta and other like fringe groups. ! and pay attention to the farmers who mind the chooks (IE us!)

[elops]

Feral wrote:

Gad wrote:

Director for the Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides stated in a press release, “Relying on fringe groups to advise on the fishing industry is akin to asking the fox to advise on hen house security.â€

I totally agree, that's why the Govt should pay absolutely no attention to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Greenpeace, Peta and other like fringe groups. ! and pay attention to the farmers who mind the chooks (IE us!)

Andrew I might have told you this story but its worth repeating. I ran into 3 AMCS persons in an inflatable near Peel one morning 1 of them a marine biologist (or so he claimed). Had a bit of a chat with them and did a fish ID quiz with the contents of my esky. snapper, venus tusk fish, grassy, and grinners(good crab bait). The score was elops 4 out of 4 Family, Genus and species. All 3 AMCS persons after much consultatation amongst themselves. 1 out of 4 genus and species only (the snapper) LMAO.