Perversion of Democracy EPA rezoning.

[rayke1938]

Here is a copy of a post on Ausfish by Derek Bullock. I think that the importance of the subject transcends any inter forum editique . Have a read and form your own opinion.

What the impact of closing the majority of the bay to the Pro fisherman means is that if you cannot catch a feed for yourself all that you can choose from will be imported fish such as bassa.

I have had a fairly close association with a couple of pro net fisherman families for over 40 years and they have always practiced sustainable fishing practices. They realise that their and their dependants future depends on this.

Cheers

Ray.

MEDIA RELEASE Sunday 23 March 2008

“PERVERSION OF DEMOCRACY†IN MORETON BAY REZONING

A “PERVERSION of democracy†in rezoning Moreton Bay Marine Park could sacrifice thousands of jobs, rob Queenslander's of fresh local fish and cost taxpayers unnecessary tens of millions of dollars.

That is the view of professional fishermen, who have called on the Queensland Government to investigate the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of the Moreton Bay Marine Park rezoning.

Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) President Neil Green said today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was trying to impose “enormously expensive†restrictions on use of MoretonBay based on support from a “tiny, tiny minority†of Queenslanders.

“This is a perversion of democracy,†Mr Green said. “According to EPA figures, around 4,500 people have requested 30% or more of Moreton Bay should be closed to all forms of fishing. That is something like zero point zero one of a per cent of the Queensland population -- not much more than one in a thousand from Queensland’s population of more than four million.

“Even then, the vast majority of these responses were form letters generated by environmental lobby groups who can be guaranteed to give EPA the appearance of support on any issue at all.

“Yet, EPA clearly sees this as some sort of victory in its campaign to impose fishing bans over large parts of Moreton Bay that we believe could be better sited to reduce harm on fishing families, fishing related jobs and seafood supplies.

“You could probably generate just as many letters from people who would support the return of the death penalty. That doesn’t mean the Government would -- nor should -- do it,†he said.

Mr Green also said EPA’s handling of the rezoning should be investigated, including their funding of like-minded environmental lobby organisations.

“Most of these support letters for bigger closures of Moreton Bay -- bigger than the State Government has apparently contemplated to date -- have been generated by campaigns by environmental lobbyists like the Queensland Conservation Council (QCC).

“If you go to the QCC website, you will see they are part of a campaign to have at least one-third of Moreton Bay Marine Park closed to all forms of fishing in “green zonesâ€Â.

“But just a month ago (February 27), EPA gave the QCC more than $570,000 in funding. That was just a direct gift from EPA for QCC to fund its operations. How much of that money is going towards trying to close Moreton Bay to commercial and recreational fishing?

“When environmental lobbyists are given a war chest like that by the EPA, how can fishing industry organisations like ours, relying on voluntary membership fees, be expected to compete in what is obviously regarded as a PR and lobbying campaign.

“You can see what the QCC tactics are. Just look at their website. They are trying to organise as many protest letters as possible and other lobbying activities to influence the Queensland Government, and they are doing it with taxpayers’ money provided by the EPA.

“Then the EPA will claim it is responding to community requests for greater protection of Moreton Bay Marine Park when these are in fact mostly form letters generated by an organisation funded by EPA itself. What sort of farce is that?â€Â

Mr Green said the fishing industry had been assured at the beginning of the process that rezoning of Moreton Bay Marine Park was not a “numbers gameâ€Â.

“However, what we see now is great play being made of the fact a majority of the relatively small numbers of Queenslanders who responded to EPA’s draft rezoning plan have requested even larger areas be closed, in line with the campaign of environmental lobbyists like QCC.

“Some 4,500 people out of the 8,000 in total who responded have asked for 30% or more total fishing closures, the vast majority of them without any understanding of what that will do to fishing families, jobs in dependent industries or fish supplies in south-east Queensland. Then they will happily just move on to the next issue, wherever the lobby groups direct them.

“I agree greater protection is needed for Moreton Bay, and where that should start is protecting it from pollution of all sorts from surrounding land. Protect the water quality in Moreton Bay for a start and the near-shore juvenile nursery habitat for fish and other sea life.

“Moreton Bay is regarded as being a wonderful marine environment right now, with hundreds of dugong, large numbers of turtles and plenty of fish and other seafood. And that is the situation after more than 150 years of commercial fishing, including over 50 years of prawn trawling, so fishing clearly is not a problem.

“EPA are going out of their way to decimate commercial fishing in particular in Moreton Bay, aided and abetted by their friends in environmental lobbying organisations, and it’s all unnecessary.

“Commercial and recreational fishermen all support sensible protection of Moreton Bay, including green zones in 10% of Marine Park, but we believe the proposed zones need to be repositioned to give protection to habitat while minimising unnecessary damage to fishing.

“Unfortunately, EPA don’t seem to want to listen. They have given up objective science and replaced it with advocacy, and they look to be pushing for an extreme position in conjunction with their fellow environmental lobbyists outside government.

“This is potentially going to sacrifice thousands of jobs, rob Queenslanders of fresh local fish and cost taxpayers unnecessary tens of millions of dollars in compensation.

“It stinks and the Queensland Government should be taking a long, hard look at what the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to force them into here before it’s too late. Queensland should not be run by a tiny minority of uncaring activists and their gullible followers.â€Â

Further information: Mr Neil Green 0408 182 252 or 3491 3180

Also see: Announcement of EPA funding for QCC at: http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/St....aspx?id=56713

QCC website at: http://www.qccqld.org.au/

[ellicat]

The QSIA president has a very unfortunate name. I'd change it.

[ellicat]

Now the jokes out of the way....

A well put sentiment.

Has anyone seen it in the local print media ? :whistle:

This is so frustrating and sickening:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

[rayke1938]

I did not see it anywhere in the print media . That is why I posted it.

Cheers

Ray

[benno573]

of course it wouldn't be posted in the local print media... that could be construed by some as bordering on logical and reasoned argument. this is just more evidence of the political bullsh!t going on behind the scenes which is going to screw all stakeholders. i doubt the people who are for the green zones are even fishermen at all - all a bunch of tree hugging hippies.

i guess the way the EPA was portrayed in the Simpson's movie was not far wrong...

[ellicat]

One thing that may strikes me as unusual is that the blame is being laid on the EPA. The EPA is always the body that is mentioned. That's factual, however it's the Green/ALP coalition that will apply the rubber stamp to all this nonsense. They must be enjoying the (almost) anonymity of their roll.

I believe they should be the ones being attacked in the media and on every street corner, boat ramp and any other place and at every opportunity. That is where the pressure should be applied IMO.

[benno573]

and the government's response to the submissions...

Public wants more protection for Moreton Bay: McNamara

Posted Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:14am AEDT

Queensland Minister for Sustainability Andrew McNamara says public support for creating new Moreton Bay Marine Park protection zones has been overwhelming.

At the moment, only 0.5 per cent is protected.

Mr McNamara says in the 8,000 submissions lodged, many people asked for 30 per cent of the bay to be protected, which is double the proposed 15 per cent.

He says it is clear that Moreton Bay's important to Queenslanders.

"The important thing for me, and I think for many, many people, is that this is about more than just fishing," he said.

"This is about protecting the biodiversity and environmental values of the bay, the seagrass and the coral.

"These things are the scientific approaches designed to protect all of the bay's biodiversity."

did anyone vote for this clown? This may as well have been written by the EPA/greens. how will stopping people targetting desirable species protect the biodiversity? the major "biodiversity" within the bay is in the invertebrate population - NOTHING has been done to protect this at all. yeah ok, anchors damage coral. so we stop using bottom anchors around the coral. and over seagrass. fine. we can cop that. but i am still at a total loss as to how stopping people fishing protects coral or seagrass? the major threat to coral and seagrass in the bay is water quality/turbidity - yet again, something that NOTHING has been done to fix. the government is happy to bulldoze mangroves to build airports which drastically reduces habitat and hugely increases local turbidity (pretty ironic really when one of the sites they want "greened out" is just up the road at nudgee beach) and allow property developers to let whatever they want flow down the drain and eventually into the river but has anything been done to stop this? NO! :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

[Ash]

I agree with you 100% benno!

[adventure_angler]

Thanks for posting this up Ray, I had read it on another site and found it very interesting.

Benno, I agree with the point you put forward. Sedimentation, eutrophication, and the like from runoff are placing great pressure on the bay and must be addressed! The destruction of mangroves and development of adjacent land is also a major issue in water quality within the Bay. Isn't the EPA meant to be responsible for water quality management..? I would have thought they would be looking at this as a priority.

-Nelson-

[benno573]

you'd think that wouldn't you... but doesn't property devlopment create $$$$?

when i studied this whole thing at uni, the major problem we found with coral was sedimentation - and the conclusion was drawn that it was a combination of three things - dredging in brisbane river, property devlepoment and mangrove destruction. if a person in a river front property wants to even trim a amngrove tree branch, the Feds, CIA, FBI, CSI, chuck norris and chief wiggum all come after them with a big stick (except chuck norris, who only needs a round house kick). if you are the government, go for it! the queensland government has been responsible for the highest level of mangrove forest descruction in the developed world - the building of the brisbane airport was and still is the single largest destruction of mangrove forest EVER in the whole world! but of course, stopping me catching 20 fish and releasing 19 at my favourite spot will be the catalyst for the ultimate protection of the bay... the whole thing stinks to hell.

and thanks for those who agree with my rantings! :cheer:

[ellicat]

Nelson, You would have picked up in the other threads on here about this being political and not really about the fish stocks of MB.

A lot of the evidence is in what you posted.

Would love to see your assignment when you're done:)