SHOOTERS and Fishers Party MLC Robert Brown said the findings of the New South Wales Marine Parks Audit Report confirmed what most fishermen already believed: that the original science behind the establishment of the Parks and their zonings needs to be redone.
Mr Brown said recreational fishers should be pleased by many of the Report’s recommendations.
“From a first reading I think it provides a fair balance between needs of conservation and sustainable use.
He welcomed the recommendation that the governance of the NSW Marine Estate be reorganised by bringing it all under one legislative and administrative structure and include the catchment management authorities covering the State’s coastal drainage system.
Mr Brown said it was also a sensible recommendation to have the Marine Estate reorganised under an independent Scientific Committee whose research priorities put greater emphasis on research in the social and economic sciences and the application of these findings to management.
“The Report also says that approaches to zoning should be re-assessed to be based on management objects that are specifically geared to ecological and biodiversity outcomes, rather than being surrogacy based, and that utilise economic and social assessments in their implementation and evaluation.
“I hope the Government takes up the recommendation in relation to improving approaches to zoning that say significant resources need to be allocated to that research.
“I will be urging the Government, as I have repeatedly done, to put aside the necessary budget under Minister Hodgkinson’s Department so that the work can be done.
I would also expect they accept that threats to marine parks should be assessed as part of a statewide risk assessment, including any indirect effects of activities such as tourism and fishing, and to use this work as a guide to a similar process that is done independently for each marine park.
“To me one of the most important recommendations is that recognition be given to the needs of user groups to be included in any future zoning in the context of a much expanded NSW Marine Estate, which could extend to innovations such as havens for particular forms of fishing or other specific uses,” he said.
