More than 32,000 people tune into a live video feed for a meeting opposed to a marine park

MORE than 32,000 people tuned in to watch a live video feed of a meeting opposed to a proposed marine park on the northern beaches.

Joseph Camilleri, 6, and his father Daniel at the Stop the Lockout meeting in Mona Vale protesting a proposed marine park on the northern beaches.

• Fishermen and anglers to protest marine park
• Plans to expand protected Sydney marine parks

MORE than 32,000 people tuned in to watch a live video feed of a meeting opposed to a proposed marine park on the northern beaches.

Recreational anglers, boating enthusiasts and people in the fishing industry, who fear that popular local fishing spots could become off limits watched the Thursday night meeting via the Stop The Lockout Facebook site.

A community meeting at Mona Vale to protest the NSW Government's proposed marine park for the northern beaches.

At the same time, about 500 people packed the meeting at a popular tackle shop in Mona Vale to hear what effects the NSW Government’s proposed Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion, covering 25 sites between Newcastle and Wollongong, will have on local fishing,

As part of the plan, protected areas on the northern beaches could increase fivefold, up from 18ha to 103ha.

Existing sanctuary and conservation zones such as Cabbage Tree Bay at Manly could be extended to preserve aquatic species and fisheries. The aquatic reserve at Long Reef would be increased to include nearby reefs and the reserve at Barrenjoey Head could grow.

But the meeting, which spilt out of the Fishing Station in Darley Rd, was told that closing off some sections of the northern beaches to fishing could have a significant social and economic affect on the area.

A community meeting at Mona Vale to protest the NSW Government's proposed marine park for the northern beaches.

Joseph Camilleri, 6, and his father Daniel at the Stop the Lockout meeting in Mona Vale protesting a proposed marine park on the northern beaches.

Justin Duggan, from Sydney Flyfishing, told the meeting that the proposed marine park was just the beginning of more “lock outs”.

Mr Duggan said the Government was pushing for the marine park to win the support of the Greens in the lead up to the March state election.

“We are fighting an ideology here. Let’s crush this and make this the worst decision the Government has ever made,” he said.

Matt Sofi, from the Stop the Lockout group, said it was lobbying the Government to drop the plans and needed 10,000 signatures on a petition so the issue could be raised in Parliament.

Mr Sofi said the use of management measures such as enforceable bag and size limits helped protect aquatic ecosystems.

“We are not the problem, we are the solution. We aren’t here to pillage the oceans. We’re all conversationalists at heart.”

Cabbage Tree Bay is a marine reserve. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

As well as signing the petition, the crowd was urged to lobby their local members of Parliament to speak out against the plan.

Mr Sofi also encouraged anglers and boaties to take their families to a No Marine Park march from Hyde Park to State Parliament House on September 27.

Angler and boat owner Daniel Camilleri, and his son, Joseph, 6, (pictured left) who regularly fish around Barrenjoey Head, Long Reef and North Harbour were at the meeting to oppose the marine park plan.

“We’ve both signed the petition tonight because the plan will take away our favourite fishing sports, ”Mr Camilleri said.

“I take out a lot of the soccer dads and their kids on our boat.

“It upsets me that the we are being told that we won’t be able to fish at these good spots anymore.

“I’ll be taking Joseph to the rally, with his sign.”