Going for Gold on Marine Parks

[Gad]

Taken from Fishing World Email Newsletter

24 May 2012

IN meetings held in Canberra this week with federal Environment Minister Tony Burke, leaders of Australia's recreational fishing community urged that Australia's 5 million recreational fishers not be "locked out" of any proposed Commonwealth Marine Reserve System.

"Giant foreign multinational environmental groups have waded into Australia's Marine Park planning process demanding the Government zone thousands of kilometres of Australia's oceans to 'Green', effectively locking Australia's recreational fishers out of these areas forever," said Allan Hansard, spokesperson for the newly formed Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) in a press statement.

"This would result in devastating economic and social impacts on the hundreds of Australia's coastal communities that rely on recreational fishing.

"We asked for the Minister not to be influenced by the multi million dollar campaigns of the multinational environmental organisations, rather act in Australia's interests and turn the proposed 'Green lock-out zones' into 'Gold zones'," Hansard said.

"Minister Burke originally proposed 'Gold zones' in recognition of the unique relationship between recreational fishers and Australia's high conservation marine environment. They provide the highest environmental protection to areas of significant marine biodiversity and allow Australia's recreational fishers to experience these areas under strict enforceable rules."

The ARFF's statement outlines the following on zoning proposals:

Why Gold is better than Green

Turning Green zones into Gold zones will:

• allow Australia to meet its international obligations for marine conservation and become a world leader in marine protection

•

• allow superior conservation protection, monitoring and compliance for Australia's unique marine biodiversity

• not 'lock out' Australia's recreational fishers from Marine Parks but will allow them to assist in their protection, monitoring and compliance so future Australians can experience these unique and iconic areas

•

• exclude all commercial extractive activities

• preserve economic and social benefits to Australia's coastal communities.

•

"Minister Burke now has the chance to provide a superior environmental, economic and social legacy for all Australians through the Marine Park planning process by turning green into gold. We urge the Minister to 'Go for Gold'.

"Australia's recreational fishers are the bushwalkers of the sea. Locking recreational fishers out of Marine parks is akin to locking bushwalkers out of terrestrial Marine Parks, it should only be done if there is a sound scientific reason to do so. We cannot see any reason to do so," concluded Hansard.

[Gad]

A New voice for all anglers ???

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is the newly formed national peak body representing Australia's Recreational Fishing Community and is supported by the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), Recfish Australia, Game Fishing Association Australia (GFAA), Sunfish Queensland, Amateur Fishing Association of the Northern Territory (AFANT), Recfish West, Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) NSW, Underwater Skindivers and Fishers Australia (USFA), Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) and the Boating Industry Alliance Australia (BIAA).

Taken from 12th April Fishing World Email Newsletter

12 Apr 2012

By Jim Harnwell

RECREATIONAL fishing leaders have united to back the formation of a peak national body representing all anglers and angling groups.

To be known as the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, the new organisation was officially announced today in a joint statement exclusively obtained by Fishing World. In the statement, Recfish Australia chairman Russell Conway and Australian Fishing Trade Association CEO Allan Hansard detail the structure and objectives of the new organisation.

Fisho on Tuesday revealed detailsof the lengthy negotiations that have been underway since the release last year of the influential "Keep Australia Fishing" report prepared by international angling activist Martin Salter. The cornerstone of Salter's report was the need for Australian anglers to be represented by an effective and independent national body.

There had also been significant pressure from politicians such as federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and Opposition Fisheries spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck for the rec fishing sector to "get its act together" and unite via a single national organisation.

Fishing industry pundits see the announcement by Hansard and Conway today of the establishment of ARFF as a major step forward by the rec sector. The formation of ARFF would result in a far more proactive relationship with government as well as giving anglers the resources to fight green extremism and oppose unsustainable industrial fishing practices, industry insiders said.

It is expected that all major rec fishing groups – including the Game Fishing Association of Australia and the Australian National Sportfishing Association – as well as the various state-based organisations plus the Boating Industry Association of Australia – will join with and support ARFF.

AFTA's Allan Hansard, who along with RecFish's Russell Conway has been a driving force behind the establishment of this new peak body, said ARFF would act as a unifying force for all anglers and angling groups.

"I see the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation working in a similar way to putting a magnifying glass to the sun," Hansard said today.

"The magnifying glass does not change the nature of the energy of the sun but captures it and allows it to be focused on specific targets.

"In this way ARFF will not change the way existing recreational fishing organizations work and operate but it will allow their significant energies to be harnessed and directed toward achieving the best outcomes for the recreational fishing community at the national level."

[Gad]

Taken from Thursday 24 May FW Email Newsletter

Pew pulls out stops in lead-up to Coral Sea decision

21 May 2012

US-based environment group Pew is pulling out all stops to sway opinion its way as a final decision on Australia's Coral Sea approaches.

In what could be viewed as a misleading online campaign on behalf of several environment groups (reportedly funded by Pew), it has been claimed the federal government has received over 480,000 submissions with "99.9 per cent" supporting a higher level of protection for the Coral Sea than that outlined in the government's draft plan.

While this number of submissions may well have been received, Fisho is of the opinion many have been lodged from outside Australia, and essentially driven by Pew. And why the federal government would heed the views of a US organisation on an Australian issue is anybody's guess...

Environment groups are also expected to roll out more big guns in the next few weeks as final decision time looms. A recent example was the Australian Marine Conservation Society's (AMCS) recruitment of acclaimed Aussie author Tim Winton, who lobbied for the environmental cause in Canberra's parliament.

Whether or not Australia's federal government takes notice of this style of "corporate environmental campaigning" remains to be seen.

[ellicat]

And why the federal government would heed the views of a US organisation on an Australian issue is anybody's guess...

I think offshore is the only place they can expect to find any significant support these days ROFL :sick:

PEW is the link to the Rockerfella Foundation, but I still haven't figured out the link between The RF and the CIA yet :pinch:

Hopefully the new body is successful in negotiating with the government against the way too powerful Green extremism. The current side of politics hasn't made a substantial correct decision since at least 1993 so I wont be holding my breath.