Hundreds of anglers to protest outside parliament despite backflip on marine park plan
Even though the government is not pressing ahead with so-called ‘lockouts’, fishos want to show authorities that anglers should have a say in any future proposed restrictions to fishing areas.
Manly
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- Fishers assured their will be no fishing ban under marine park plans
- Plan to expand protected Sydney marine parks
HUNDREDS of amateur anglers and boaties from the northern beaches will travel to a mass rally outside State Parliament next week despite the NSW Government sinking its plan to curtail fishing at popular spots.
Even though the government is not pressing ahead with so-called “lockouts”, local fishos want to show authorities that anglers should have a say in any future proposed restrictions.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair announced on Monday that proposals to lock fishers out of more sections of the NSW coastline had been scrapped after a strong public backlash.
As part of the proposed Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion, covering 25 sites between Newcastle and Wollongong, existing sanctuary and conservation zones such as Cabbage Tree Bay at Manly would have been extended to preserve aquatic species and improve fisheries.
While the government is progressing with its marine park expansion, Mr Blair ruled out any fishing ban in those areas.
He promised there would be no loss of fishing rights or access to the proposed marine park sites suggested by the Marine Estate Management Authority.
But conservation groups condemned the decision as one that would strip environmental protections even before the public consultation period on the plan closed on September 27.
Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said the government had caved in to a noisy minority of voices.
Australian Marine Conservation Society spokesman Adele Pedder said stripping sanctuary protections may render the park potentially ineffective.
However, Alex Qasabian, who runs a popular tackle shop at Mona Vale and has helped organise support against the lockouts, said there was still some uncertainty surrounding what access anglers would have in the proposed marine parks.
Mr Qasabian said anglers and those who made their living from recreational fishing would attend the CBD rally next Thursday to voice their opinions.
“We want to let authorities know that they can’t make changes that affect us without consulting with us and giving us a say,” he said.
“They could end up restricting access in these new zones without seeking opinions.”
