Federal Marine Parks Loom

[Gad]

Taken from Fishing Worlds latest Email Newsletter 3-5-11

03 May 2011

By Jim Harnwell, Editor/Publisher Fishing World

Burke to help pros, ignores rec anglers ??

FEDERAL Environment Minister Tony Burke today announced a scheme to assist commercial fishing operations deal with a new system of Commonwealth marine parks but has made no mention of similar help for Australia's 3 million anglers.

Mr Burke released the Government's policy of supporting commercial fishing operators and communities if they are affected by the establishment of soon-to-be-announced Commonwealth marine reserves.

The fisheries adjustment policy outlines the principles that the Government will apply in determining the forms of assistance available to industry and fishing-reliant communities following the establishment of a final network of Commonwealth marine reserves.

The Government has committed to the development of marine bioregional plans and new marine reserves in four identified regions across Australia to protect the nation's unique marine environment for future generations.

Mr Burke said the Government would work closely with the commercial fishing industry to identify fair and reasonable assistance.

It would ensure individual businesses were supported where adjustment was needed and to ensure fish stocks outside reserves were maintained at sustainable levels to support the industry.

Mr Burke made no mention of the recreational sector in his policy statement. More than 3 million Australians enjoy fishing and the rec sector is worth billions to the national economy.

Fisho has contacted Minister Burke's office to gain clarification on his policy statements and to ascertain his standpoint on recreational fishing issues.

Without having the opportunity to talk with Mr Burke, it is difficult to say if his media statement today was a deliberate snub or an oversight. Or perhaps there was no need for him to make any mention of recreational fishing issues, although you'd think the Minister would at least acknowledge the fact that millions of Aussies like fishing and would thus be interested in his plans for vast swathes of our marine resources.

Interviews Fisho conducted with former environment minister Peter Garrett and more recently with Dr Mike Kelly, the parliamentary secretary for fisheries, indicated that the federal Government's new marine protected areas would have little impact on recreational fishing activities.

If that is indeed the case then Minister Burke's statement today focused solely on assistance strategies for the commercial fishing sector, and did not include the angling sector, simply because the Government is not planning to exclude recreational fishing from any of its new marine protected areas.

We can only hope this is the case. It would be the best possible outcome. But if we've learnt anything from the whole marine parks saga of the past decade or so it's that no-go zones are the norm rather than the exception. So don't hold your breath on the feds being nice guys and letting us in while they ban the pros.

The other option is that Minister Burke is planning a separate announcement detailing his assistance package for the recreational fishing industry. If this is the case, then we look forward to the Minister's ideas, hoping all the while that the no-go zones will be minimised.

The third, and least appealing option, is that Minister Burke and his advisors just left out recreational fishing when they worked out this assistance plan. They either completely forgot about us or, possibly more likely, didn't even consider the economic and social worth of the rec industry.

We would hope this is not the case. It would be extremely disappointing to realise that the 3 million Australians who enjoy recreational fishing just didn't even rate when the Minister was planning all this. Surely, though, the shellacking the Government got at the last election, especially in marginal coastal seats, cemented home the message that anglers just can't be treated like mushrooms?

The Government is expected to soon release a draft bioregional plan and marine reserve network for Australia's south-west, followed by plans for the north and east.

[Gad]

The Hon Tony Burke MP

Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Government outlines fishing industry assistance commitment

Media release

3 May 2011

Environment Minister, Tony Burke, today released the Gillard Government's policy of supporting commercial fishing operators and communities if they are affected by the establishment of new Commonwealth marine reserves.

The fisheries adjustment policy outlines the principles that the Government will apply in determining the forms of assistance available to industry and fishing-reliant communities following the establishment of a final network of Commonwealth marine reserves.

The Government has committed to the development of marine bioregional plans and new marine reserves in four identified regions across Australia to protect the nation's unique marine environment for future generations.

Mr Burke said the Government would work closely with industry to identify fair and reasonable assistance.

It would ensure individual businesses were supported where adjustment was needed and to ensure fish stocks outside reserves were maintained at sustainable levels to support industry.

"For generations Australians have understood the need to preserve precious areas on land as national parks. Our oceans contain many iconic, precious and fragile sites which deserve protection too," Mr Burke said.

"Australia has the third largest marine environment of any nation in the world. Almost 90 per cent of the marine species found in some parts of the south-west are not found anywhere else in the world - a third of the world's whale and dolphin species are found in this region.

"We know Australians need our oceans to be healthy if they are to keep providing us with fish to eat, a place to fish, provide sustainable tourism opportunities and a place for families to enjoy.

"That's why the Gillard Government is working with communities to establish a network of marine reserves to drive a sustainable future for our marine environment and to help ensure our oceans stay healthy and productive.

"This policy outlines the principles for providing assistance to the commercial fishing industry and fishing-dependent communities, as well as setting out how the need for assistance will be assessed on a case by case basis.

"The Government is committed to working with industry to minimise any adverse impacts from the establishment of these marine reserves and to supporting them through any adjustment that is required."

The Government's fisheries adjustment policy is consistent with the Commonwealth's Marine Protected Areas and Displaced Fisheries Policy released in 2004.

The Government will use data such as fisheries catch records and other industry information to determine appropriate forms of assistance.

Following extensive consultation with industry and communities, a draft bioregional plan and marine reserve network for Australia's south-west will be released shortly and be followed by a further three month consultation period.

Draft bioregional plans and draft marine reserves plans for the north, north-west and east regions are being developed and will be rolled out this year, also followed by a period of three month community consultation. A final network of marine reserves is expected to be established in 2012.

For further details and information about the Fisheries Adjustment Policy visit www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/about/policy.html.

[Gad]

SENATOR RON BOSWELL

THE NATIONALS SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

www.ronboswell.com

3rd May 2011 B2011/27

Media Contact – 07 3001 8150 0428 450 942

Swan must allocate hundreds of millions for fishery adjustments costs

Treasurer Wayne Swan will need hundreds of millions of dollars in the forward estimates of the federal budget next week to fund Assistance to fishermen and other businesses for cuts to fishing grounds under a policy announced by Environment Minister Tony Burke today.

Mr Burke released a Fisheries Adjustment Policy to guide government support for fisheries as it imposes a vast network of marine reserves in Australian territorial waters out to the 200 nautical mile limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone.

The long awaited policy purports to essentially follow the principles of the Howard government era adjustment regime that led to payments to fishermen and associated businesses of almost $250 million for the 2004 rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Release of the government’s plan for marine reserves in the vast South-West Bioregion, stretching from east of Adelaide to north of Perth, is imminent.

The Government will announce plans covering the rest of Australia’s EEZ by the end of this year, with implementation of marine reserves in 2012.

“This will be a massively expensive exercise if fishers and their communities are to get reasonable compensation or structural adjustment for the inevitable constraints on fisheries,†Senator Boswell said.

“That is the experience in relation to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and will inevitably be the experience in relation to this vast extension of marine reserves.

“The Treasurer will have to have hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked in the forward estimates to cover these costs.

“If they’re not there then commercial fishermen should be deeply sceptical about the government’s intentions.â€

ENDS

[Guest]

Wow great report, thanks for the update Gad