Tin Can Bay reacts to proposed marine zoning changes

Cooloola Coast residents are outraged at the State Government’s proposed marine zoning changes to the Great Sandy Strait marine park, others not so much.

Tin Can Bay residents have slammed the Queensland Government’s handling of environmental issues in the Great Sandy Strait, with some claiming it has become a political issue rather than an environmental one.

The proposed plan would result in a further 791 sq km of the Great Sandy Strait being converted to a green zone, effectively banning any fishing in the area.

Cooloola Coast commercial fisherman Mark Alexander said he was outraged at the lack of public consultation.

“It’s ridiculous. They haven’t consulted properly and it’s going to put a lot of people out of business,” he said.

“I’ve fished here my whole life, and I’m going to be gone basically.”

“It’s going to devastate so many businesses,” he said.

Ben Dunstan is one of the owners of Tin Can Bay Dolphin Centre.

One business owner with strong opinions was Ben Dunstan, who is one of the owners of Barnacles Cafe and Dolphin Centre.

The business, which is the premier tourist attraction in Tin Can Bay, relies heavily on local fishermen to maintain fish supplies for the dolphins.

“With the destruction of the fishing industry, we lose the ability to feed dolphins,” Mr Dunstan said.

Joe Mcleod is a long-term Tin Can Bay resident and commercial fisherman. The passionate advocate said the zoning plan did not properly address the true issues affecting supplies in the Strait.

“What they’ve done is listened to a radical element in the recreational fishery,” he said.

“Most recreational fishing people around here are tolerant of the number of net-fishers are around now – this used to be a major net fishing port.”

Joe Mcleod explains some of the environmental studies from the Great Sandy Strait's history.

Mr Mcleod said the State Government needed to address issues further upstream, including herbicides used in the local forestry industry which seep into the water.

“You can’t blame all this on commercial fishing,” he said.

Fishing, both commercial and recreational, is a crucial part of Tin Can Bay, according to Lee’s Fishing Company director Lisa Lee.

Ms Lee said the most important people to be affected by the proposed fishing ban would be consumers.

“Not everybody likes to fish – not everybody has the time,” she said.

“They’re the ones that are going to miss out.”

Lee's Fishing Company is a popular and long-term business in Tin Can Bay.

One Tin Can Bay resident, who asked not to be named, agreed with the government action, but felt more manpower was needed.

“There is one EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) bloke that does from Hervey Bay from Mooloolaba, and he’s up at Hervey Bay,” they said.

A sign outside Barnacles Dolphin Centre in Tin Can Bay.

John Learmonth recently moved to the Tin Can Bay area in August for the lifestyle and fishing opportunities.

He said he agreed with the conservational efforts of the State Government, but wasn’t completely sold on the marine zoning.

“There are certain places that need to be a green zone,” Mr Learmonth said.

“If they start controlling the whole lot, then what’s the use in being here?”

The Department of Environment and Science said in a statement on Tuesday the commercial use of nets will continue under the draft plan.

“The commercial use of tunnel nets, set pocket nets and small mesh bait nets – and as such the local supply of fish to dolphin feeding – will be able to continue in the Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet,” a Department of Environment and Science spokesperson said.