Marine park plans: Central Coast poll shows support for sanctuary zones
WHILE many local fishers are livid at the proposed marine park plan, a recent poll has shown overwhelming support for the plans on the Central Coast.
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WHILE many local fishers are livid at the proposed marine park plan, a recent poll has shown overwhelming support for the plans on the Central Coast.
A poll, conducted by ReachTEL late last month, showed 76.9 per cent of people in the Gosford region supported the plan, along with 75.7 per cent of people in the Terrigal region. The poll was completed by more than 600 people.
Seven sites across the Coast have been identified in the State Government’s marine park plans including Lion Island, Bouddi National Park, the Ex-HMAS Adelaide, Forresters (southern end of Bateau Bay to Wamberal Lagoon) Tuggerah Bay, Norah Head and Bird Island.
“Contrary to the claims of some lobbyists, the vast majority of people on the Central Coast support the government’s proposed marine park for the Sydney region,” Sydney Marine Park campaign spokeswoman Sharnie Connell said.
“The polling shows the government has massively underestimated how much protection people on the Central Coast want for our ocean waters and marine life. More than 80 per cent of people said they wanted sanctuary zones to protect at least 10 per cent of the region’s waters designated no-take sanctuary zones.”
Ms Connell said 24 per cent of people polled on the Coast self-identified as “recreational fishers.”
Marine ecologist says plans don’t go far enough
Marine ecologist Professor David Booth, from the University of Technology Sydney, said the proposed sanctuary zones preventing recreational fishing covered just 2.4 per cent of ocean between Newcastle and Wollongong, leaving 97.6 per cent open to fishing.
He said while it was a welcome announcement, it was not nearly enough.
“20 per cent is world standard, 30 per cent is Great Barrier Reef and seven per cent is the rest of NSW,” he said.
Prof Booth said while pollution was identified as the main stress in the marine park plans fishing also causes stress.
“Fishing gear is a main source of microplastic debris in the marine environment,” he said.
A December 2017 research article from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Tasmania, and School of Life Sciences, UTS noted that there was a 30 per cent loss of all fishes in Australia over the last decade. Prof Booth said the paper indicated there was no losses in “no take” areas.
Terrigal Liberal MP speaks against plans
Meanwhile, Terrigal state Liberal MP Adam Crouch said the marine park proposal is “too extreme”, and he supported the local fishing industry.
“Whilst it is important to protect and conserve our environment for the future, it’s also vital to ensure our beaches and waterways remain open to all,” he said.
“Fishing is an integral part of the Central Coast lifestyle and economy.
“I have made representations to the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for the Environment about how this marine park proposal, in its current form, does not get the balance right.”
The Facebook Stop The Lockout group has attracted 37,000 likes in less than two weeks.
A second public meeting will be held at Davistown RSL on Thursday, September 13 from 7.30pm.