THE Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance welcomes the announcement and release of the draft re-zoning plan for the Great Sandy Marine Park.
You can view the full details here – https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/marine-parks/zoning/gsmp
The proposed changes are described in a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement, now available for consultation until midnight 23 October 2022
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You can review the proposed changes here:-
According to the Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance, all of the Red Cross-Hatched – Designated Great Sandy Area has been removed without exception. Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance said this decision is a huge win for recreational anglers, fish stocks and the marine environment.
Green zones have increased from 3.9% to 12.8 %, – which maintains the Great Sandy Marine Park as one of the lowest green zone percentages among other marine parks in the country.
Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance said if you are not happy with some of these proposed areas, it encourages you to make a submission via the online survey below and explain your position and the changes you would like to see made.
Tunnel nets, pocket nets, and bait nets can still be used in the Yellow Conservation Zones. Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance does not support this and asks everyone to request that these are all removed from being able to be used in Yellow Conservation Zones.
The FCFA will also be calling to have the proposed Dark Blue “Habitat Protection” zone that has been included from Ngkala Rocks on the Eastern Beach of K’Gari to Moon Point on the Western Side of Platypus Bay – replaced with a Yellow Conservation Zone – this would then be in keeping with the same zoning that runs up the entire Eastern side of K’Gari.
If there are any other areas that you feel strongly about and would like to see some changes made to this draft plan, you are encouraged to make a submission via this survey: –
• https://intheloop.des.qld.gov.au/great-sandy-marine-park-zoning-plan
Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance also encourages you to thank and congratulate all the decision-makers who have worked towards this outcome.
* The Premier – thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au
* The Minister for Environment – Meaghan Scanlon – environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au
* Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries – Mark Furner – agriculture@ministerial.qld.gov.au
* local member for Maryborough – Bruce Saunders – Maryborough@parliament.qld.gov.au
* local member for Hervey Bay – Adrian Tantari – Hervey.Bay@parliament.qld.gov.au
