PHP Warning: Use of undefined constant VBA_SCRIPT - assumed 'VBA_SCRIPT' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in ..../includes/functions_navigation.php(802) : eval()'d code on line 1 Scuba diving fee will boost protection for GNS
"This document has been posted for information and to encourage discussion among yourselves. For more information from NSW DPI on the issue, please visit our web site on www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au"
Re: Scuba diving fee will boost protection for GNS
He He who would have thought a year ago the scuba's had their behinds waving in the breeze with painted arrows as outstandingly as us Rec fisherman did.
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Scuba diving fee will boost protection measures for grey nurse shark.
20 June 2005
Protection measures for the critically endangered grey nurse shark could be boosted with the proposed introduction of a small fee for scuba divers to access ten critical habitat areas in NSW.
The State Government is in the process of consulting with dive operators and other stakeholders over a possible fee structure. Money raised will go directly to research and other projects aimed at protecting the grey nurse shark.
It is estimated there are less than 500 sharks remaining in NSW waters, which means the species could be extinct in this state within 20 years.
The State Government has introduced some of the strong protection measures for grey nurse sharks in the world. These include the creation in 2002 of ten critical habitat areas along the NSW coastline where the sharks are known to aggregate.
The areas are located at:
Julian Rocks (Byron Bay)
Fish Rock (South West Rocks)
Green Island (South West Rocks)
The Pinnacle (Forster)
Big and Little Seal Rocks (south of Forster, merged as one site)
Little Broughton Island (north of Port Stephens)
Magic Point (Maroubra)
Bass Point (Shellharbour)
Tollgate Islands (Batemans Bay)
Montague Island (Narooma)
One of the great pleasures of scuba diving in NSW is the chance to have a close encounter with a grey nurse shark, dubbed the “labrador of the sea” because of its friendly nature.
But this has created a situation where grey nurse shark aggregation sites (including the ten critical habitat areas and two other areas located within the Solitary Islands Marine Park) are so popular with divers, there may be a negative impact on the shark population unless control measures are put in place.
The dive fee and accompanying compliance measures will go a long way towards protecting the grey nurse shark in NSW through helping to fund vital projects.
The State Government is currently carrying out ongoing tagging and monitoring projects to learn more about the sharks’ feeding and migration habits.
Also, a world-first artificial breeding program has recently been announced, which will see embryos harvested from wild sharks and reared in specially constructed artificial uteri.
However these conservation efforts do have a certain cost to them, and the State Government believes that groups benefiting from the protection of the grey nurse shark should be asked to make a small contribution to these ongoing costs.
Most other recreational users of the state’s waterways pay some sort of fee for access to key resources. For example, recreational fishers pay a licence fee, with the funds raised reinvested in a range of projects to boost fishing, such as restocking and habitat restoration.
A similar system will operate under the proposed dive fee. The fee is not a tax but will raise money to help protect one of our most critically endangered animals.
Many other popular diving centres – including the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, the Cayman Islands and Mexico – have a similar fee structure in place to protect ecologically-sensitive marine environments.
The fee will apply for people wishing to dive in grey nurse shark critical habitat areas. Divers will also be required to dive with specifically licensed commercial charter dive operators and to adhere to certain diving practices in place at the sites.
The State Government is continuing to consult with stakeholders over the fee system, and a date for its implementation has not been set.
The exact cost of the licence and the way it is administered will only be determined following careful consultation with industry and key stakeholders.
The NSW Government is aware of the important economic role recreational diving plays in many coastal communities and we are committed to ensuring the industry is not unduly affected as a result of the fee.
Re: Scuba diving fee will boost protection for GNS
What it doesn't say gents is that it's also proposed to ban private divers from those areas.
Only commercial operators who pass on the fee to their customers will be able to use the reserves.
It is a sad sad day my friends.
While some here may rejoice at "the payback" seemingly dished out at our other marine users - I suggest you look at the wider principals in use here and see how they may effect you in the future.
Scenario -
Snapper stocks dwindle - Qld government moves to protect numbers and at the same time increase research into further breeding programs.
Govt recognises Deep Tempest and Mud Island as the major aggregation areas and creates recreational fish reserves to regulate the impact on the areas. 5 commercial operaters can apply for a license to take paying customers into the areas twice a week. $30 of the customer's fee goes back to the Govt for research.
NO OTHER FISHERMAN ARE ALLOWED IN THE RESERVES.
Stocks elsewhere are in decline making it harder to catch fish but stocks in the reserve are making a comeback and good catches are recorded by the few that are willing to pay the high price on offer from the commercial operator. Word goes around about the guaranteed catch in the reserves and the commercial operators are booked out for months in advance with the operations becoming successful financially.
In 6 years time general stocks are increasing as a result of the low impact on the aggregation areas. Fishermen argue to have the areas re-opened because the stocks are no longer showing signs of pressure. The comercial operaters successfully argue that they've invested time and dollars into creating a viable industry that returns good dollars back to the Government. The Government refuses to re-open the reserves and looks to introduce others as well apply the practise to other species because of the success with snapper.
Re: Scuba diving fee will boost protection for GNS
Brett - We are talking about paying to dive exclusion zones for GNS only here aren't we or is the fee payable anywhere you dive ?. I definitely think they should be regulated as to who operates it and how many dive there per year. Surely there are plenty of other areas "divers" can enjoy their pastime.
The scenario you portray is plausible but like divers I could and would find somewhere else to enjoy my pastime if it saved a species in a certain area, just as I have already had to do when we got kicked out of the GNS areas. ( Man there must be some big snapps hanging around Hendos now)
Re: Scuba diving fee will boost protection for GNS
Greg,
You're right the 10 sites they're talking about are marine reserves areas where GNS have been seen or reported.
There's two issues really 1) the daily fee 2) the sole use of an area by a certain user group.
It's the second one that we've seen the Govt leaning towards lately and frankly it's a very very dangerous precendent. As I said on the Dive Oz site - it's up to the good governance of the administrators to say who's in or who's out.
As many of us know personally - we can't rely on Govt seeing things the same way we do.
who would have thought a year ago the scuba's had their behinds waving in the breeze with painted arrows as outstandingly as us Rec fisherman did.
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