Call for Coral Sea Fishing Ban
Courtesy of the ABC
A group of leading marine scientists is calling for the Federal Government to ban fishing in a 1 million square kilometre area of the Coral Sea.
The scientists say the Coral Sea is one of the few remaining pristine marine areas on the planet and the only way to keep it that way is to ban fishing altogether.
The proposal would create the world's largest heritage park.
Professor Terry Hughes from James Cook University says the protected area would be three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
"It's virtually unique in that it's one of the last places in the world where you can still find significant populations of big things like billfish and tuna and sharks," he said.
"In most other places around the world those species have been severely depleted.
"So there's an opportunity for the Australiain Government to create something unique and to look after the Coral Sea for the future."
But Robin Hansen from the Queensland Seafood Industry Association says the level of fishing in the Coral Sea is already sustainable.
"I wish that they would consult with fisheries more closely because clearly a lot of the info they are giving out to the public has no relevance at all," he said.
"It is really nonsense to suggest that the area is under threat from fishing practice in this state.
"And the evidence that we have seen with the GBR Marine Park is that there is a cost to commercial fisherman and indeed seafood consumers as to how this impacts in commercial fishing businesses."
Mr Hansen says the scientists are poorly informed.
Imogen Zethoven from the Pew Environment Group says the benefits to the environment far outweigh the hardship that would be experienced by the fishing industry.
"It would impact on a small number of operators who would need some assistance from the Federal Government but on the other side of the ledger the protection of the area would be a huge contribution to global marine conservation," she said.
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Adam Gallash
Posts: 15665
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Interesting
Interesting, a million square kilometre zone that will be need to be policed and enforced.
So you remove the local fishing operators/charter etc which bring money to the region and then open the doors to those certain Indonesian pillagers that can't be adequately policed and regulated...
Go the Pew Environment group, always thinking one step in advance. SIGH.
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Cliff
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 27/04/08
ROGER
THAT. Common sense seems to be a thing of the past.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
It is a concern
when small single interest groups make these types of statements. Another report is suggesting that the data they have used is completely flawed.
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Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
brilliant!
Sounds like these guys have never studied fisheries in their life
Someone needs to explain what the terms 'maximum sustainable yield' and 'carrying capacity' are.
Just another play on the general public.. (sometimes I wonder, do these politicians think we're THAT stupid?)
edit: on second thought, we still have today tonight and a current affair, so nvm...
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Lol Kasey Couldn't agree more on your edit comment
The sad thing about this proposition is that it is being put forward by scientists.
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7739ian
Posts: 948
Date Joined: 25/06/08
The fish will
still end up in a Javanese or Roti Island processing plant.
seansurfy
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 09/08/06
I can't beleive
I can't beleive this......I'm going there for a 10 day trip next month.........perhaps for the last time
:-(
Spokesman for the Queensland Seafood industry Association Robin Hansen said the Coral Sea campaign was the brainchild of "international greenies (who) are just emotional and over the top".
Mr Hansen said the Australian Government already was committed to declaring a marine park over the entire region and the local industry would work with Canberra on its implementation, which he said would allow some fishing.
"We are continually amazed by these calls," he said. "There is a complete disjunct between what these agencies are implying and to the real-world situation out there.
"The fisheries are eminently sustainable. In fact there is precious little fishing out there."
He said fishers were "getting tired of being the scapegoats for all things evil in the environment".
"We can't continue to demonise fishing."
Mr Hansen said beyond the issue of the Coral Sea was "the broader issue of environmentalism as a religion".
"At some point, are we going to be eating seafood or are we not?" he asked.
Queensland National Party senator Ron Boswell said the proposal, backed by the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change "has crossed the line of insanity".
"In the balance between environmentalism and environmentally sustainable industry, the pendulum is starting to swing too far one way and food producing industry is suffering as a result," Senator Boswell said.
"The Coral Sea area is a low volume, high-value fishery and its sustainability has not really been under question."
big john
Posts: 8786
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Can't help themselves
Sad to see Seansurfy, hopefully common sense will prevail.
Have you got another mountain of gear to sacrifice this time?
Love to do one of those trips in a couple of years time.
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
seansurfy
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 09/08/06
too much gear
Yeah John, too much gear! This is part of the arsenal -
Ian Miller Tournament 37KG Standup/Alutecnos 50W 2SP
JM Powerspell 400S/Stella 20000 PE8
JM Powerspell 350B/Torsa 16N PE5
Synit GTS PE6-10/ Ocea Jigger 5000P PE10
Synit Acid Wrap PE1-4/Abu Toro60 PE3
TCurve 15-24 Bluewater Spin/Twin Power 8000HG PE6
.....maybe a SP set too...
Lots of Jigs, big bibbless, lazer pros, skirted lures....spare line, blah blah
crikey.......excess baggage here I come
Coral sea carnage
big john
Posts: 8786
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Plan
If all goes to plan you'll lose every lure, the majority of your braid and have a gazillion great pics.
Maybe a trip to the chiro on your return as well.
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
what? no gt gear?
what? no gt gear?
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
from the pics, it looks like
from the pics of that particular charter, it looks like meat fishing jay
the gt's i see are all hanging off meathooks
seansurfy
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 09/08/06
KC - Kanimabla caters for a
KC - Kanimabla caters for a wide range of clients.
This trip is for 10 days sportfishing the Coral Sea territories.....half the crew are travelling from outside OZ.........might be a bit hard to take their 'meat' home..........Coral sea carnage
seansurfy
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 09/08/06
A mate is bringing the
A mate is bringing the popping gear - couple of Zenaq FC80-10/ stella combos.......I'm not so much into popper fishing though........alot of work for a few fish....I prefer jigging....but each to their own.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
just another example of lockemup an leavem
yip, it's just another example of "lockemup an leavem" mindset. We will be banned and the Indo fishermen will com and go as they please cleaning out all the stocks...
I'm all for protection and reasonable usage, but some scientists forget the planet is inhabited by people and resources are used in a respectable and social responsible manner.
just another reason to stop Green and Labor fools running the show
Full-time piscatorial-idiot, in The Vines. "It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek poet.
Supporter of Meals on Reels
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
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Nealez
Posts: 1220
Date Joined: 08/05/06
I must go to nomad i must go
I must go to nomad
i must go to nomad
Tackle Dangler
Rob C
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 02/08/06
Nealez you will not regret
Nealez you will not regret it im booked in for the 2nd time in april :D:D
Nealez
Posts: 1220
Date Joined: 08/05/06
Thats it im going now to
Thats it im going now to find the funds
Tackle Dangler
Nealez
Posts: 1220
Date Joined: 08/05/06
Ill call you on monday
Ill call you on monday Bankwest.....
Tackle Dangler
Nealez
Posts: 1220
Date Joined: 08/05/06
Nomad in February here i
Nomad in February here i come!!!
Tackle Dangler