Commonwealth 'Areas for further Assessment' are Marine Parks

[PhilIN]

In NSW the six Commonwealth 'Areas for further Assessment' are ALL adjacent to NSW State Marine Parks.

The Batemans 'Area' is in the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro held by Labor's, Dr. Mike Kelly. I prepared the following list of questions, with our answers.

Kelly maintains that we have "nothing to worry about" in relation to the 'No Take' zoning .. which we heard from the Labor Government in NSW when the Batemans Marine Park was zoned.

QUESTION:
What effect will the Coalitions Marine Park policy have on the area?

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: If the Coalition succeeds on August 21 we expect a moratorium on producing the draft zoning (including ‘No Take’ zoning) in early 2011. We would expect a thorough study into what aspects of the Marine environment are threatened in the ‘Area for further Assessment’, and what it is threatened by. The present proposal by the Labor party will merely draw lines on maps based on a predetermined percentage closure listening to the advice from Minister Peter Garrett, Greenpeace and the PEW Foundation.

QUESTION:
What effect would the Greens policy of a 30% fishing closure of Australian Territorial waters have on the local economy?

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: This will be an economic and social catastrophe for the Eden-Monaro electorate.

The Greens appear determined to declare an economic jihad on the South Coast of NSW, as well as all of regional and rural NSW.

Despite Australia having the most sustainable and regulated fishing industry in the world, the Greens have instead listened to the unrepresentative green environment groups and believe the best way to protect fishing is simply to ban it! No thought to the effects of pollution from land, sewerage or agricultural run-off .. The Greens will simply ban fishing .. This simply hoodwinks the public.
Measure #20 on their policy document states quite clearly:

20. Ensure that the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas program has legislated targets of a minimum of 30% ‘no take’ areas per bioregion by 2012.

This means that NSW will have a 440% increase in no take fishing zones. This WILL lead to the closure of the Ulladulla, Bermagui and Eden Fishermen’s Co-ops. Fishermen will have no means to get their catch to the Sydney or Melbourne markets as Fresh fish, hence this completely ecologically sustainable fishery will wither and die after 140 years of existence.

QUESTION:
Dr. Kelly has repeatedly stated that the ‘Area for further Assessment’ is simply that. There may NOT be areas that are of significance or require protection, and hence there may not be any closures.

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: The members of the Narooma Port Committee and every fisherman I have spoken to do NOT believe him on this point.

Without any doubt the external boundaries of the ‘Area’ will form the “Commonwealth extension of the Batemans Marine Park”

At a public meeting with Mr. Boxhall and Mr. Martin Russell, from DEWHA, it is patently clear that ‘no take’ zoning would occur within the established boundaries. Recreational, Charter and Commercial fishers were asked to provide details of areas that they ‘couldn’t afford to lose’.

It was also made clear that State Batemans Marine Park ‘sanctuary zones’ that went to the 3nm. Limit would be ideal to continue out into the Commonwealth area as a ‘linking’ or ‘connectivity’ of sanctuary zones. There is NO plausible science in NSW, or even Australia for this assertion.

If Dr. Kelly is so sure on this point then perhaps he could explain why each of the five Commonwealth ‘Areas for further assessment’ in NSW are ALL adjacent to NSW State Marine Parks?
Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens, Lord Howe, and Batemans Marine Parks.

QUESTION:
Dr. Kelly also has stated that this process was started by the Howard Government in 1998, so Labor in fact is not to blame.

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: He is correct.

However the Marine Protected Area program under the Howard Government started in the South-East Australia region, from the Victorian border around the southern tip of Tasmania to the mouth of the Murray. The ‘Areas’ were established in about 2002 and finalized in 2006.

Much input was done by DAFF, and little by DEWHA

Much consultation was done with Commercial fishers and fair and reasonable compensation figures were established. This continued onto land based industries affected by these Marine Reserves

There is NO Sanctuary zone, closed to recreational fishing, within 100kms of the Coast in the 13 Marine Reserves in Australia’s South-East.

QUESTION:
Surely, as has occurred with the South-East Marine Reserve system, there will be an appropriate compensation system in place?

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: One does not even need to do a careful reading of the ‘Displaced Activities” report, available on the DEWHA website, to realise that the Government has commissioned a biased report to decide their policy on that. The report makes it absolutely clear that there is no requirement to compensate Recreational or Charter boat operators or associated businesses .. as these can ‘move’ to non affected areas. Commercial fishers are also due for an unpleasant surprise.

The Federal Labor Government will, as far as is possible, avoid paying compensation to affected industries.

In the case of the Howard Government, restructuring the South East Fishing industry during the South East Marine Reserve system cost about $200million in compensation. Restructuring industry affected by the increase in ‘no take’ zoning on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has cost taxpayers in the order of $240million.

QUESTION:
What is the problem with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts (DEWHA) being the lead authority in this issue?

NAROOMA PORT COMMITTEE: As with the NSW Government and its Marine Parks policy there are absolutely NO fishery scientists involved at the level of local Advisory Committees or input into zoning.

DEWHA, as it is a ‘conservation environment’ body, WILL attract environmental zealots, as the NSW DECC and Marine Parks Authority does. Could I refer you to Professor Booth and Assoc. Prof Andy Davis for evidence of that.

Finally the Minister is Peter Garrett. I have not heard of anyone who has confidence in his position or competence to do his job. To put it quite plainly he has been promoted way above his competency level.

It has been shown that he takes an inordinate amount of advice from the Pew foundation, and the Australian Conservation foundation.

It is interesting to read the comments from some of the senior Fisheries scientists within DPI to the State Marine Parks.

[curalo]

BULL EXCREMENT!!!!!!

Hope he goes the way of Gary Nairn!

What worries me about your proposed MPA's is the fact that, now, DEWHA only appear to want to take them to 80 mile not 200 as in the South East, so 30% may well become 75%
As for the compensation issue, I could write a book on how the Howard Government didn't compensate the fishing industry. PhilIN drive down to Eden and ask what survivors there are about it. While you are there pay attention to all Edens empty shops caused by "structural adjustment". Not one of the operators or landlords got a zac!

[Chris Ryan]

remember that it is a MINIMUM of 30% of COMMONWEALTH waters and they will force STATE GOVERNMENTS to have the same from inside 3nm to shore. So it is in effect over 50% in reality to START with.

[PhilIN]

Greetings Curalo ... hope you don't think my post is BS ??

I have been involved with the State Batemans Marine Park, and a vociferous critic, since 2005. Have been peripherally involved in the South East Marine Reserves since 2002. The SE Reserve system was done with a huge amount of consultation. It took 4 years. The ones proposed off the East Coast will take 12 months and the principle used by Government will be the DaD principle(Decide and Defend).

I have spoken to many Commercials in Eden over the past few years and virtually all believe that the system was fair, including Gary Warren from Southern Pelagic. As far as I was aware there WAS funding given to land based businesses ie. Southern Palagic ... however you have a different slant??

I agree that it is a worry that EVERY 'Area for further Assessment' is right up next to EVERY NSW State Marine Park. In the South East region none start closer than 30kms from land (I think I am correct in saying that??)

Philip C
PS .. I am definitely NOT an apologist for Marine Parks.

[curalo]

Phillip, I am a commercial very much involved in Eden and elsewhere and with no apologies to Poge he was hardly involved in the process. the Co-op is on the verge of collapse, the town cannot rely on tourism. in short its stuffed, bermagui is no better try speaking to Steve Buckless Southland in Eden or Anthony Jubb in Bermagui both of whom were directors of the South East Trawl Fish Assn for their view of the process. When I figure out how this pm thing works I'll message you

[mudrunner]

vote 'family first'.

[PhilIN]

Greetings Curalo

Thanks for your PM I can see where you are coming from. I agree with you 100% about the situation in Eden/Bermagui and yes Narooma.
A commercial fisher friend explained the reasons why Marine Parks have such an effect on regional towns such as mine, I have expanded on it a little..

Firstly the area is zoned and the Commercials are bought out .. A one off payment that does nothing to address the fact that a family that has been fishing here for 90 years is now NOT fishing and never will again. This reduces the 'diversity' of jobs here.

Secondly the Fisherman's Co-Op then starts to feel the pinch, the weight of fish that comes is decreased and this puts pressure on refrigerated freight to Melbourne/Sydney as not enough for a daily service. Less boats mean the number of boats coming in at any one time is reduced. At Bermagui now it may only be once a week at times.

Remember the train service stops at Nowra and Bairnsdale. If lucky the Co-Op gets Government funds to diversify .. ie become a tourist centre as well. Meanwhile the attraction of fresh fish 'from the Co-Op' is dwindling as becomes difficult to regularly get fish and it is hard to adjust to boom (school holiday) and bust (winter .. out of school holiday) times. The sale of fish to tourists then starts to decline a bit more.

Thirdly The trap & Line commercial fishers find it very hard, as they come in every day (when weather is OK) with a catch that needs to go to Market NOW. Because not as many fishers the freight to the nearest Co-Op is not profitable for a refrigerated courier to operate.

So nowadays most Trap & Lines take their catch to Co-Ops themselves. Sometimes a round trip of three hours after you have been outside for 10 hours.

Fourthly. Another closure of fishing areas decreases fish availability even more. The Trap & Lines couldn't be bothered so give up and go and try to work in the Timber industry .. this is being attacked by the Greens and several get their vehicles 'grafittied'. The Ulladulla, Bermagui and both Eden Co-Op are now going to close .. it is completely uneconomic to be open for receiving only 40% of your previous catch.
No freight to Markets from 500kms of South Coast of NSW. Trawlers and Longliners move away. The fishing heritage of the South Coast of NSW is disappearing ....Do the Greens care?? You bet.

The Trap & Line fishers now have no way to get their fish to Market. No refrigerated transport available, and not a 'regular' enough income to justify the boom times in school holidays. Another industry is on its knees in regional Australia, and it winds down.

I have been a Veterinarian for nearly 40 years, I used to work 12 hour days, day in day out .. I did love it. Could I be a commercial fisherman?? .. I doubt it the work is just too long and hard, the regulations and uncertainty too complex.

Meanwhile the Greens Eco-tourism jobs are increasing hand over fist .. at last count there were 5 jobs created in the last 10 years between Ulladulla and Eden.
The entire South Coast becomes a service industry area ...

I hate the Greens and what they are doing to regional and rural Australia.

Philip C
PS - I most likely exaggerated the eco-tourism jobs by 500%

[curalo]

Phil
You haven't finished the story. I estimated, and believe me I am good at what I do, that the loss of the pro fishing industry ripped $10 mil from the economy of Eden alone, I would expect that the MPA's will have a far greater financial impact from the recs.
I believe that there are 400 members of the Bermagui Game Fishing Club, mainly from Vic and Canberra, why would they travel to the coast if they can't go fishing around Montague?
Every caravan park and motel on your coast will be almost worthless.
Ask a real estate agent where he thinks property values for houses will be in 5 years if a MPA goes in. Eco terrorists, sorry tourists don't buy property unless they intend to grow pot, just take a look at Nimbin or Tilba!
Then there are the socioeconomic impacts, which I have already witnessed in other fishing villages destroyed by these zealots.
More young people drifting to the cities to get a job, young families leaving a community to such an extent that a government closed the primary school and the few remaining children now have a 1 hr bus ride to get to school, the destruction of sporting and service clubs, the lack of young volunteers for the Rural Fire service and the only growth industry will be Centrelink!
and while the south coast burns both political parties have had their head in the sand!

[Roobone]

Its not just PEW!

http://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au