Poo`s Battle of the Coral Sea

[Gad]

taken from Fishing World`s Email Newsletter 9-6-11

PEW falsely claims victory in battle for Coral Sea

09 Jun 2011

IN a bizarre twist in the ongoing battle over angling access to a world famous sportfishery, the American Pew organisation has publicly announced that a massive no-fishing zone covering the entire Coral Sea has been given the green light by the federal Government and will be announced by early next year.

But the Pew claim doesn’t seem to have any political support. It has been firmly rejected by Environment Minister Tony Burke and strongly criticised by the federal Opposition.

Mr Burke responded to Fishing World’s questions about the Pew statement by indicating that any marine park in the Coral Sea would be based on a multi-use format, similar to that already announced for the south-western region of WA. Minister Burke’s comments support those made earlier in the year by Fisheries spokesman Dr Mike Kelly, who told Fisho during an interview there was no reason to close the Coral Sea to well managed recreational fishing.

In a further blow for the US funded organisation, Pew’s claim that it had succeeded in achieving the imminent closure of about 1 million sq km of ocean off the Queensland coast has been labelled as “presumptuous†by Opposition fisheries minister Senator Richard Colbeck.

According to information obtained by Fisho, Pew staffer Beth Hill told a public meeting at Sydney’s University of Technology on May 26 that the Coral Sea no-fishing zone was a “fait accompli†and would be announced by the Government early next year.

A member of the public who was one of four people who attended the Pew meeting contacted Fishing World and released to us extensive notes about Pew’s Coral Sea plans. The notes are transcripts taken down during Ms Hill’s talk .

According to the anonymous source, Pew regarded public consultation about the closure of the Coral Sea to fishing as a “formalityâ€. The Government would announce the closure following the 2012 federal Budget, Ms Hill allegedly told the meeting.

According to our source, Ms Hill said she had seen photographs of anglers fishing in the Coral Sea and described them as “horrific†while stating that Australia’s recreational anglers were not interested in the Coral Sea issue.

Mr Burke told Fisho that the Government favoured multi-use marine parks in federal waters and indicated that he would implement the “balanced†approach to marine protected areas as detailed to Fisho in 2010 by former environment minister Peter Garrett. See HERE for details of an interview Fisho conducted with Mr Garrett.

“We are working our way through the Commonwealth waters,†Mr Burke told Fisho. “On each occasion some people want to allow fishing, trawling and drilling everywhere. Other people want to lock everything up.

“The best example I can give of my approach is for people to have a look at how I have dealt with the south-west in the draft maps that have been released for consultation. This process will deliver environmental outcomes. It will respect the needs of local economies. And it will always take into account the many Australians who love to fish.â€

The draft plan for the south-west bioregion has been largely welcomed by anglers. It creates the world’s biggest marine park yet has minimal impact on angling activities. Green groups, however, are calling for further restrictions on fishing in the draft plan. WA angling groups have created a website – rla.net.au – which allows anglers to alert federal and state politicians to their opposition to unnecessary restrictions to fishing in offshore waters.

As well as calling the Coral Sea announcement “presumptuousâ€, the Opposition’s Senator Colbeck attacked Pew and other anti-fishing groups for “mounting vilification campaigns against … responsible rec fishosâ€.

“There’s no doubt the Coral Sea has biologically and historically significant features, but the Coalition does not support campaigns to declare the entire Coral Sea a marine park and to ban fishing activity in these waters,†Senator Colbeck told Fisho.

The senator said the national marine bioregional plan has several consultation periods to gain input from all stakeholders, which includes commercial and recreational fishing groups, and coastal communities and businesses that survive on fishing-related trade.

“The Government should ignore these important voices at its peril,†Senator Colbeck said.

Fisho contacted Pew’s Australian based Coral Sea campaign director Imogen Zethoven for her comments about the Coral Sea issue but received no response.

[Gad]

A member of the public who was one of four people who attended the Pew meeting contacted Fishing World and released to us extensive notes about Pew’s Coral Sea plans. The notes are transcripts taken down during Ms Hill’s talk

Notes from the Pew meeting

The anonymous source who attended the Pew meeting in Sydney on May 26 took

the following notes during the talk by Pew staffer Beth Hill and offers them to

Fisho readers to read and assess.

· PEW believe the total non-take marine park for the Coral Sea is a “fait accompliâ€,

but the decision / announcement has been delayed from this year as the Governments

work through detail around budgets/cost of buybacks from the commercial industry.

· The decision (to create a no-fishing park throughout the Coral Sea) was made before

public consultation, which is just a “formalityâ€.

· Pew believes the Government will announce the no-take park for Coral Sea after next

year’s budget.

· A big stumbling block to the announcement is allocating the available budget to buyout

professional fishermen – the Government doesn’t have enough money.

· According to the source, Pew is playing on Tony Burke wanting to focus on marine

issues and Tasmanian forests to “make his markâ€.

· Pew will be focusing its efforts on Burke’s electorate to create the impression of a

“vocal constituencyâ€.

· Pew is also focusing heavily on “community outreach†in Cairns to correct “misinformation†about the Coral Sea.

· Interestingly, Hill claimed this was an amazing campaign because there was almost

no-one opposing it.

· All commercial fishermen in the Coral Sea want to get out of the industry and be

compensated by the Government. Fair enough but why ban recreational sportfishing?

· The Coral Sea is too far for any recreational fishermen to go except for very

expensive live–aboard charters (“and you should see the photos from these, they are

horrific, with fishermen with big smilesâ€.)

· Pew expects to replace fishing with other tourist activities to create a new tourism

jewel. (Hang, on, if it is too far for fishos, won’t it be too far for tourists?)

· At the end of the presentation I probed the “no opposition to the campaign†claim.

Hill stated she “was going to cover that, but didn’t know how long she had availableâ€.

· In answer, Hill stated that there was “a small amount of opposition from the

recreational fishing industry who where a loud minority spreading lies and

misinformation in the communityâ€.

· “In fact, most recreational fishermen the Coral Sea campaigners have spoken with

were embarrassed by the rec-fishing industry lobby representations.â€

· “That is why you’ll notice on the petition contact form there was a place to identify

that you are a recreational fisherman, so we can highlight the government these

people overwhelmingly support the campaignâ€.

General Overview of presentation & structure of argument.

· Start with 11-minute puff piece of underwater filming – apparently in the Coral Sea.

(Hill said she had an hour and a half version of the film but couldn’t think why

anybody would want to watch an hour and a half version.)

· Pulled together a lot of irrelevant and unsubstantiated facts and implied it was a

scientifically-based argument.

· Showed a picture of a marlin and called it a swordfish.

· Kept tittering to herself about the rare booby-bird. (giggle:...â€I don’t think I’ll ever

get over how funny that isâ€)

· Claimed 90% of the world’s large species of fish are in danger.

· Every second breath we take on earth comes from oxygen from plankton etc in the

sea. So how does banning recreational fishing affect that?

· Barry the Maori Wrasse has been selected as a mascot of the Pew campaign because

the commercial fishing industry is still fishing this endangered species and it is a

“charismatic fish known as the puppy dog of the seaâ€.

In fact, Maori wrasse are totally protected by law in the Coral Sea.

[Gad]

Update

Pew- Rec fishos battle for Coral Sea

Taken from Fishing Worlds Email Newsletter 25-10-11

AS reported last week, anti-fishing groups calling for more and bigger no go zones across Australia's north and northwest met with unified - and vocal - opposition from anglers and politicians.

Today, Fishing World's Jim Harnwell comments on the outcome of a meeting he and fellow rec fishing leaders held on Thursday night with federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.

COMMENT: Win for fishos as Pew loses battle for Coral Sea 24 Oct 2011

By Jim Harnwell

TONY Burke seemed quite surprised when I asked him if he was going to bow to Pew's demands and ban fishing in the Coral Sea. "No, of course not," he replied. "Why would I do that?"

These are the words Aussie fishos have been waiting to hear. The fact that the federal Environment Minister has categorically refused Pew's calls for a massive no-take marine park in the Coral Sea, east of the North Queensland coast, is a clear sign that the Government is taking a level headed approach to marine protection.

There is no doubt that we need to protect our oceans and fish stocks. Anglers have for generations led the way on marine conservation, arguing against industrial over-fishing, opposing inappropriate development and mandating strict catch and bag limits.

But in recent years environmental groups, in many cases aided and abetted by the American-based Pew organisation, which has huge cash reserves and significant political clout, have pushed a strict anti-fishing agenda, calling for all fishing to be banned across vast swathes of ocean.

Despite protestations from the rec sector, the anti-fishing lobby has steadfastly refused to differentiate between industrial fishing and recreational angling.

Lumping all fishing together is a clever political strategy – it's far easier to call for blanket bans on everything than it is to explain to politicians and the public at large the differences between trawl nets and spin sticks, long lines and baitcasters.

But this somewhat devious campaign by Pew and its acolytes has seemingly backfired. At a dinner with rec fishing leaders last week, Tony Burke outlined his plans for marine protection in Australian waters.

Despite the millions of dollars spent by Pew on emotive campaigns calling for massive closures, Burke has rejected the narrow-minded green agenda and opted instead for a unique and visionary strategy that will limit destructive commercial fishing but (mostly) allow well-managed recreational fishing.

This is a politically astute yet environmentally responsible move by Burke. His plan is aimed at delivering good social outcomes (read votes) while also cementing his reputation as an environmental reformer.

Burke has demonstrated with this decision that he's a savvy political player who wants the best for the environment while not unduly limiting its responsible use and enjoyment.

Burke is no fool - he knows that the hard-core greens can never be satisfied – whatever you give them, they want more.

Unlike some other politicians, he also realises that recreational fishing in this country is something of a sleeping giant, especially in regards to voting patterns.

In his plan for federal marine parks Burke has sworn to protect what needs protecting while acting also to rebuild bridges with the four or five million Aussies who like fishing. This can only be seen as a clever and well-rounded strategy.

Burke outlined his goals regarding marine protection at a dinner last week with a small group of rec fishing leaders.

The Minister made it clear from the outset that he wanted to re-establish positive dialogue with the rec sector. This in itself is a welcome move.

Along with talking about how the rec sector can better work with Government, the Minister also outlined in detail his plans involving federal marine parks, including the Coral Sea and the soon-to-be-announced park in the southwest of WA, mooted as the biggest marine park in the world.

The Coral Sea and the southwest would be the areas that would receive the most environmental protection, the Minister said during the dinner.

Other areas in the north of the country would have fewer restrictions (whether Top End anglers will accept any restrictions at all remains to be seen as yet ... the recent hue and cry stimulated by an ambit claim put forward by the Australian Marine Conservation Society for large areas of the NT to be closed to fishing doubtless gave federal politicians, including Tony Burke no doubt, a small taste of what can be expected if they plan to mess with Territorians and their fishing!).

Top End shenanigans aside, the Minister was at pains to explain that the entire network of federal marine parks, due to roll out over the next year or so, would be multi-use, not total lock-ups as advocated by the anti-fishing groups.

During the conversation, the Minister revealed that all the new federal parks would have significant zones mandated as "recreational only". These areas would be accessible to the majority of fishos – ie, they would be open to anglers fishing from trailer boats.

Under the Burke plan, specific rec fishing sectors – for instance, the black marlin fishery off Cairns, which the Minister singled out for particular mention – would also be recognised and protected from commercial exploitation and/or anti-fishing closures.

This federal identification of recreational fishing as a legitimate activity within a marine park has major socio-economic and environmental implications for fishing in all marine parks, be they state or federal.

Minister Burke's decision to highlight recreational fishing and to give anglers what amounts to exclusive rights to large areas of commonwealth waters signals that he understands the hugely important role fishing plays in Australian society.

It also indicates that the Government realises that well managed recreational fishing need not have an adverse impact on the environment.

Of course, the question of balance comes into the equation as well. There is no doubt that some areas of our marine environment need stringent protection and Minister Burke made it clear that he would provide that protection in areas that require it.

Anglers by and large understand and accept this. What we don't understand or accept is the no-compromise total lock ups advocated by Pew and other hard-core environmental groups.

It seems that Minister Burke shares our convictions in this regard ... Stay tuned for further developments.

Fisho today contacted Pew for comments on this issue but has to date received no response.

Jim Harnwell is the editor and publisher of Fishing World. He has for several years reported on issues involving the politics of marine parks.