The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), the peak national organisation representing Australia’s recreational fishing community, has welcomed the announcement by the Coalition Government, of a scientific review into the previous Labor Government’s proposed marine parks.
If implemented, the proposal would have seen Australia’s 5 million recreational fishers locked out of 1.3 million square kilometres of Australian seas.
In a statement, ARFF Managing Director Allan Hansard said, “We are pleased the Coalition Government has listened to Australia’s recreational fishers and are conducting a scientific review of the proposal, which will give a sensible balance for Australia’s unique marine environment. It was clear that the decisions to ‘Lock’ recreational fishers out of vast areas of our seas by the previous Government was not scientifically based and was done to meet a political agenda.
“Australia’s recreational fishers should not be locked out of marine reserves unless, after a thorough comparative assessment with other activities such as diving, tourism and defence activities, there is a good scientific reason to do so.”
The government’s scientific review is expected to take six months and will also result in the redevelopment of the management plans for the marine reserve system.
Hansard says the previous government fast tracked the development of the critically important management plans for the marine reserve system in an attempt to get them passed before the election. As a result recreational fishers, the largest stakeholder user group affected by the reserve system, were not genuinely consulted.
“From discussions we have had with the Government we are confident that this time we will see genuine consultation and engagement with Australia’s recreational fishers and other key stakeholders when the management plans are redeveloped.
“The Coalition Government has delivered on their promise to Australia’s 5 million recreational fishers. We look forward to working with the Government and other key stakeholder user groups to develop a marine park reserve system that genuinely protects our marine environment that all Australians can be proud of,” Hansard said.
“Labor’s proposed changes would have meant it was against the law for recreational fishers to cast a line at some of their favourite fishing spots across the country,” said federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt in The Australian.
Labor environment spokesman Mark Butler said the government had used obscure powers to undo 20 years of work started under the Keating Labor government and continued under John Howard.
“The management plans for the marine reserves were based on extensive scientific analysis and informed by serious community and industry consultation – now we will see this all happen again, possibly setting these protections back by a good two years,” he said in a statement.
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