PLANS by green groups to push for no-fishing zones in Sydney Harbour have been dealt a major blow by revelations that more than 60 per cent of the harbour is already off limits to recreational fishers.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance, the peak body representing NSW’s 1 million anglers, has produced a detailed map showing that 60.72 per cent of Sydney Harbour is off limits or otherwise restricted to recreational fishing activities. The research into the restrictions was compiled by a group of anglers from South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association, bream tournament anglers and fishing charter operators who use the harbour extensively.
“However, we have groups like the National Parks Association wanting to impose sanctuary zones which would see at least another 20 or 30 per cent of the harbour closed to fishing. That would leave just 10 or 20 per cent of the harbour available for recreational fishing,” RFA president Stan Konstantaras told Fisho today.
“That’s obviously completely unworkable so instead of marine park bans we’re calling for the NSW Government and the NSW Labor Party to immediately declare the harbour and surrounding waters as a recreational fishing haven.”
The Labor Party has already announced plans to establish a marine park in the Sydney area if it wins power at the state election in March. See details HERE. But ALP heavyweights – including environment spokesman Luke Foley and fisheries shadow minister Steve Whan – have suggested that any new marine park may not involve further restrictions on recreational fishing.
The Labor MPs made these comments in a recent interview with Fisho but said they would not confirm their final marine park plans until extensive public consultation had been carried out.
Meanwhile, the NSW Government seems to be distancing itself from speculation that it would announce its own marine park plans for Sydney Harbour, with Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson blasting Labor’s “paper parks” agenda.
“Labor is all about drawing lines on maps and calling them marine parks, without adequate consultation, in order to score cheap votes,” the Minister said.
“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 this latest 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?”
It seems clear that the RFA has done Sydney anglers a great service by taking the time to research the extensive closures already in place in and around Sydney Harbour. While it’s doubtful extremist anti-fishing groups like the NPA would admit that the harbour is already adequately “protected”, the RFA’s hard work should be a clear sign to politicians from both major parties that there is no need for any further lock-outs.
Instead, the harbour should have its recreational fishing heritage protected and enhanced by being legislated as a recreational fishing haven.
It’s understood that the RFA, on behalf of NSW anglers, will be seeking bipartisan support on this – as well as various other recreational fishing issues – from all sides of politics in the lead up to the 2015 state election.
For more information on the RFA and the great work it does for all NSW fishos, visit www.facebook.com/rfansw. The RFA is supported by all major NSW angling groups plus national organisations including the Australian Fishing Trade Association, the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation and Keep Australia Fishing. For more insights into the push for a haven, visit www.facebook.com/sydneyharbourrecreationalfishinghaven.
Editor’s note: Green groups led by the NPA are staging a forum on their plans to make Sydney Harbour a marine park on November 9 at the Bondi Pavilion. According to the NPA website, the “event provides a venue to discuss and share ideas to build a new marine park for Sydney”. Participants will “hear from scientists, indigenous and community leaders and divers about what makes Sydney’s marine environment so special (and) help to raise awareness about why the marine waters of Sydney deserve to be conserved as the state’s seventh marine park”.
Sounds like a blast, hey? Find out more at www.npansw.org.au.
