Would the South Australian Government please explain to commercial and recreational fishers the supposed “threats” to our marine environment which
necessitate a whopping 46% of our coastal waters to be restricted as marine parks?
In line with international conventions, the SA fishing industry supports the conservation of the marine environment – including the adoption of marine parks – where threats are identified.
However, the industry strongly rejects the excessive size of the marine park boundaries proposed by the Government as they are not based on identifying the real threats to marine ecosystems and habitats, nor do they do anything to help aquatic areas already under stress.
The Government’s proposal is vague, poorly considered and open to change in the future without consultation. Significantly, it is inconsistent with Australia’s international commitments to marine conservation and with practices adopted at international, Federal Government and State Government level which require that marine parks address specified threats to marine species or ecosystems in order to protect and conserve marine biodiversity and habitats.
If the Government is serious about protecting our marine environment it must detail the threats and how marine parks will address and alleviate them.
The SA fishing industry is more committed than any other to the conservation of the aquatic resources of South Australia. We spend millions of dollars every year in research, management and policing to ensure fishing opportunities are sustained for current and future generations.
As professional, charter and recreational fishing people we all support conservation of the marine environment, but we should not swallow the Government’s proposal for marine parks hook, line and sinker!
Joel Redman
President, South Eastern Professional Fishermans Association
