Rec ‘Voice’ Happy With Shark Decision

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Taken from Fishing World email newsletter

Rec fishing body supports shark de-listing

22 Jan 2015

THE Australia Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), the peak national body representing Australia’s recreational fishing community, says that the federal Government’s intent not to list five species of shark, three thresher and two hammerhead species, as part of the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS) makes common and practical sense.

ARFF managing director Allan Hansard said: “Australia is a world leader in fisheries and conservation management and already has regulations in place at the national and state levels that provide for the protection of these species. These and other species are monitored and studied and where appropriate adjustments to management are made to maintain protection of these species.

‘The listing of these species under the CMS convention into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Convention Act (EPBC Act) would also create unintended consequences for recreational fishers. If a recreational fisher, by chance, caught one of these species after it was listed he or she could face a potential $170,000 fine or a two year jail period.

“There are countries that do not have the high level of fisheries and conservation management that Australia has. In these countries these species are under real threat because of inappropriate fishing and conservation management.

“ARFF supports the true intent of the listing of these shark species under the CMS, which is to ensure these countries put in place appropriate fisheries management and conservation measures to protect these species.

“ARFF supports all efforts by Australian governments and non-government organisations to ensure these countries address these issues,†Mr Hansard concluded.

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Taken from Fishing World email newsletter

Opinion: Shark decision the sensible option

22 Jan 2015

By Jim Harnwell

THE decision by federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to not list five shark species – three types of threshers and two hammerhead species – as part of the Convention of Migratory Species is the right move for Australia.

Although Hunt is being slammed by environment groups for his actions, the reality of the matter is that signing up for this convention would achieve no environmental benefits in Australian waters. It would, however, place recreational fishermen in an untenable situation.

There are already conservation and management plans in place for sharks in Australia. If Hunt signed up up for CMS listing, nothing would change other than anglers facing the risk of huge fines and even jail time for accidently catching one of these species.

Environment groups led by the Humane Society International seem to place more value in Australia signing a piece of paper than they do in addressing the real problems facing sharks (and many other species) worldwide. These problems include rampant overfishing by countries with far worse records than Australia when it comes to fisheries management.

What point is there in signing up for a convention that would result in Aussie anglers being jailed for catching (and releasing) a shark when longline fleets in Asia are finning and dumping literally thousands and thousands of them every day?

This is hypocrisy at its most extreme. The only way a plan like the CMS could work in relation to the five shark species in question is if all fishing was banned. But maybe that’s exactly what the anti-fishing zealots want …

It’s right and proper that a country like Australia should lead the way with responsible protection of vulnerable species. As Greg Hunt has demonstrated, that doesn’t always mean we have to sign up to treaties or plans that achieve nothing apart from giving green extremists a nice fuzzy feeling.

Jim Harnwell is the editor and publisher of Fishing World magazine.

[Binder]

Never heard of this ARFF mob?

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another self nominated 'voice of the rec fisho' , who is so mute in the wilderness the average rec fisho doesn`t know their there :dry: