Courier Mail News
Rosemary Odgers and Brian Williams 24jul04
THE State Government has ruled out compensating commercial fishers if it adopts a proposal to close to the industry a further 600km of Great Barrier Reef coastline.
Environment Minister John Mickel said the plan to close areas was a Commonwealth initiative and no compensation would be paid by Queensland.
"The Commonwealth has told people affected by the new zones that it has a blank cheque, and stakeholders should take advantage of the Commonwealth's offer," Mr Mickel said.
Commercial fishers, the Federal Government and the State Opposition reacted angrily to his comments yesterday, saying the state had a moral obligation to pay compensation.
Under a proposal revealed on Thursday, the state would mirror no-take zones introduced on July 1 by the Commonwealth which closed one-third of the Reef to fishing.
The no-take zones would be extended from the low-tide to high-tide marks to cover state waters, shutting out fishing along an extra 600km of coastline although it would still be allowed in rivers, creeks and mangroves adjacent to the Reef.
Queensland Seafood Industry Association chief executive Duncan Souter said the issue had not been properly investigated and the move was lazy.
The looming disaster of hundreds of fishermen out of work could easily be avoided by making specific areas in which fishing was not allowed rather than imposing a blanket ban.
Compensation in state waters should mirror the compensation in federal areas, especially as some of the inshore areas were the most productive.
"In effect, the State Government is taking the cream of our fishing off us," he said.
Mr Souter said far from saving areas, Mr Mickel's move would destroy fisheries by squeezing fishermen into smaller areas.
The industry had already lost 850 jobs and $44 million a year through state and federal cutbacks. "When is enough enough?" Mr Souter asked.
Federal Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said the state should offer compensation.
"Nothing the Commonwealth Government has done imposes any obligation on Queensland in relation to waters under its control," Senator Macdonald said.
"I have always made it indelibly clear that the Commonwealth would not be picking up the bill for decisions made by the Queensland Government."
State Opposition spokesman Mike Horan said the state proposal would destroy commercial fishing families.
"There's little environmental benefit of shutting down 600km of foreshore," he said. "It's an assault on Queensland's barramundi and mud crab fishing industry, and it's an assault on recreational anglers."
Sunfish Queensland executive officer David Bateman said the plan would impact on recreational fishers, particularly around Hinchinbrook and Magnetic Islands.
But Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind welcomed the plan.
"The Reef is one of our most important assets and we need to do the right thing and look after it," he said.