Sydney Harbour Marine Park proposed by Labor

[Gad]

Taken from Fishing World email newsletter

29 Sep 2014

IN the lead-up to next year's state election, NSW Labor says it will make Sydney Harbour a marine park.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, if elected in March, Labor would introduce a marine park that would encompass the Harbour and extend from Pittwater to Port Hacking.

In a move sure to raise the ire of the city's anglers, the Sydney Marine Park would have a mix of sanctuary areas, where recreational fishing is banned, and general use zones.

Opposition Leader John Robertson, announcing the commitment yesterday, said recreational fishing and boating would continue, but a marine park would also offer additional protection to the Harbour's marine life that currently did not exist.

Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley said the harbour's unique range of plants and animals were under pressure from pollution such as micro plastics and climate change.

"An established marine park would ensure engineering solutions to cope with sea level rise were compatible with protecting animals," he said.

While there would be no change to existing rules for fishing, Mr Foley said an advisory committee of harbour users including fishers, tourism operators, conservation groups and marine scientists would be established to advise on the location of specific zones within the marine park.

"I suspect [that process] will take two years because it will be done in consultation with the community," he said.

Read more on Labor's announcement and view map of proposed MP area: http://lukefoley.com.au/labor-to-protect-sydney-harbour-for-enjoyment-of-future-generations-with-creation-of-a-sydney-marine-park

Marine ecologist David Booth, from the University of Technology, welcomed Labor's announcement and said countless studies had shown that marine parks were successful for conserving native species.

In response to Labor's announcement, Fisho received this statement from NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson:

“Labor is all about creating ‘paper parks’ – drawing lines on maps and calling them marine parks, without adequate consultation, in order to score cheap votes.

“Unlike Labor, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to establishing a foundation for a consultative, scientific and evidence-based approach to the management of the marine estate into the future.

“There is no doubt Sydney Harbour is an iconic and special place, but it is also a functional and working harbour.

“What is unclear from today's thought bubble from Labor is how their announcement will impact all the interests that use the harbour, from defence to local government, tourism to recreational fishing as well as the yachting, cruise line and boating sectors and other transport.

“What background work has Labor done to come to the conclusion that a multi-billion-dollar harbour should be locked up?

“In March 2013 the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government announced a new framework for the sustainable management of the marine estate, in response to the Report of the Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks in NSW.

“Our new approach is about ensuring the management of the marine estate considers ecological, social and environmental values.

“Central to this approach, two new bodies – the Marine Estate Management Authority and the independent Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel – were established as part of this reform.â€

Read Herald report at: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-state-election-2015/sydney-harbour-would-become-marine-park-under-state-labor-20140928-10n7tv.html

[ellicat]

Thank God they've got no chance.

[Gad]

political Déjà Poo: The feeling that we've heard this crap before ...

[ellicat]

Yep. Spot on. lol

[Gad]

Anglers slam Labor over Sydney lock-outs

02 Oct 2014

By Fisho staff writers

THE ALP’s plans to create marine park lock-outs in and around Sydney will result in a massive anti-Labor campaign in the run-up to the March state election, angling groups have warned.

The annoucement last week by NSW Labor leader John Robertson that his party would create a marine park encompassing the entire Sydney region was greeted with anger and disbelief by NSW’s 1 million recreational anglers.

Robertson’s marine park plans would involve at least 20 per cent of the total area being closed to all fishing. Anglers are concerned these closures will see iconic locations such as Port Hacking, Botany Bay, the Georges River, the Harbour, the Parramatta River, the Lane Cove River, Middle Harbour, Long Reef, a variety of ocean beaches and headlands and Pittwater all being subjected to fishing bans.

It is understood that angling groups including Keep Australia Fishing, the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, the NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Australian Fishing Trade Association and the Australian National Sportfishing Association are all gearing up to luanch co-ordinated campaigns against the Labor proposal.

Social media campaigns have already begun. From the various posts Fishing World has seen, there is a groundswell of anger and disquiet from the angling sector about the ALP’s lockout statements. It’s understood the boating sector is also extremely concerned about the economic impacts fishing bans in the Sydney region will have.

Apart from the anti-Labor push, there is also growing pressure on NSW Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson to immediately declare Sydney Harbour as a recreational fishing haven. Angling groups are also seeking committments from the NSW Government about continued access to fisheries within the Sydney region.

Fishing World is interviewing Labor’s environment spokesman Luke Foley about his party’s marine park plans next week. Stay tuned for more details on what Labor is planning.

Meanwhile, take the opportunity to let NSW Labor leader John Roberston know your feelings about his marine park plans. Mr Roberston’s email is: leader.opposition@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Fisho will detail campaigns against Labor’s fishing bans as soon as the relevant info comes to hand. It goes without saying that a united front is vital if we are to succeed in opposing these unjustified lockouts ...