Just got this interesting media release in an email:

It's a subject of minor interest to Queensland's well-heeled city-set. But even politicians were startled and inspired by the small, nuggetty man in joggers and t-shirt who spoke at the State Library of Queensland last week.

Last Friday night, acclaimed Western Australian author Tim Winton held a hushed gathering of over 200 ocean wardens, art aficionados and Queensland politicians, spellbound.

Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Tim was asked to speak at their inaugural art auction. In his speach, Winton fearlessly weighed in on a tide of controversy, tackling well-known Queensland "cultural inertia" and partisan fishing industry notions, with particular regard to Moreton Bay zoning issues that in the last few weeks have sparked fierce debate.

Winton said much public comment had been mischievous.

"The widely held concept of 'no fishing' or 'no go zones' in Moreton Bay is an irrational meltdown, a strange conspiracy conceived by hard core extremists with endless demands."

"The Beattie government must stiffen its resolve against those who don't necessarily represent everyone's interests. This is not about the end of fishing [on Moreton Bay]. It is about logic. Only the pressure of logic can prevail against rank paranoia."

Winton was self-deprecating and refreshingly honest.

"I'm not on a sentimental mission. I've killed many marine species and I'm hard-wired to hunting and gathering. But I'm not a complete idiot,"he said.

"I read like anyone else, I have my eyes open like anyone else. And I have witnessed the steady decline of iconic [marine] species."

"90 per cent of big predatory fish are gone in the world's oceans. And industrial fleets are grinding away at the remainder".

Winton was baffled by Queensland fishing attitudes.

"This is a wealthy, stylish, enlightened state. I am puzzled by the local problems."

"What is it about fish that makes them shoot-able," he said.

"Why do conservationists become extremists while irresponsible, old vested interests are routine? That does not bring about mature debate, but it is depressingly familiar."

Beattie government state parliamentary secretary for the environment Michael Choi attended the Marine Art Auction. He said it was critical to resolve issues surrounding the Park's future.

"This event highlights the urgency to ensure the survival of a Queensland icon. The government is concerned about protecting the Bay. However, there are conflicting demands for use of Moreton Bay, and they need to be considered," he said.

Member for Indooroopilly and parliamentary secretary to the minister for communities Ronan Lee MP who also attended, did not mince words.

"We fish it, we kill it, we eat it, or we are sensible. This matter must be resolved fairly. There is no choice. We are exploiting a resource with no thought to consequence," he said.

Queensland Conservation Council secretary Simon Baltais said it was surprising how many Queenslanders had not visited Moreton Bay.

"So many people have not been to Moreton Bay. There are coral reefs and bottle-nosed dolphins, there is an amazing array of sea creatures. It"s different every day. Economically and socially it's worth billions," he said.

"But there are dangers. We could be loving it to death."

Ends

Contact: CRaig Bohm 0427 133 481 or 07 3393 5811

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=53667

Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Sunday, August 26, 2007

Minister: No ban on rec fishing from jetties, rock walls, marinas or popular fishing spots

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has given an assurance that recreational fishers will always have access to Moreton Bay’s most popular fishing spots as a result of the Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning review.

“Today I am setting the record straight,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“We want people to fish Moreton Bay forever. People will always be able to wet a line from jetties, rock walls, marinas and other popular spots including an overwhelming majority of beaches that fringe the Bay.”

The Minister said she was increasingly concerned by the level of misinformation being spread about the review.

“By and large most people have approached this very important issue in a sensible and productive way,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“Some of the best feedback from more than 4000 responses to our on-line surveys so far has come from recreational fishers who have asked that their favourite fishing spots be kept open.

“The top spots they identified included the Hutchison Shoals, Smith Rock, Brennan Shoals, Roberts Shoals, Point Lookout, 35 Fathom Reef, Tangalooma Wrecks, Jumpinpin and Crusoe Island.

“And these locations will always be open to recreational fishers.

“Our review of the Moreton Bay Marine Park is about making better opportunities for all bay users.

“Fishing on Moreton Bay is a great part of our lifestyle and we want to keep it that way forever.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said Moreton Bay was a complex marine environment with dolphins, turtles, dugong, sharks, migrating whales and 750 species of fish.

“It also has an amazing variety of habitats including coral reefs, kelp forests and seagrass beds. These habitats and species, and the way they interact make Moreton Bay one of the richest marine ecosystems in Australia - an area famous for its biodiversity,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“This is about having a healthy bay, a healthy marine environment and fair access.

“The review will ensure that Moreton Bay remains a place where the people of southeast Queensland continue to have a healthy lifestyle to enjoy for ever.

“It’s about mums and dads being able to take their children and grandchildren fishing on the bay the way their parents and grandparents did.

“We are listening to the views of all bay users – recreational and commercial fishing interests, conservationists and the tourism industry.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said the independent scientific Expert Advisory Panel recommended that, in line with the internationally accepted scientific advice, a minimum10 percent of each of the 16 habitat types within the marine park should be protected.

“Exactly where those areas will be is yet to be decided but they will not be the beaches, jetties, piers and the areas where most people most love to fish,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“We are consulting widely. So far we have held 10 information sessions and had displays at every boat and fishing show in the south east corner since February. There have been extensive mail outs and meetings with stakeholders including businesses, bait and tackle shops, fishing clubs, seafood industry, tourism bodies, conservation groups, boating, diving and recreation groups and commercial fishers.

“We are also having input from the Moreton Bay Access Alliance who represent the peak fishing bodies. The Alliance is undertaking their own study and we eagerly await their submission.

“This consultation has been thorough and extensive and is ongoing. I strongly urge everyone to have their say and provide feedback on the Moreton Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan Review on the web at www.epa.qld.gov.au.”

Media Contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or 0417 603 409

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Sharks in Coral Sea need protection: WWF

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Sharks-in-Coral-Sea-need-protection-WWF/2007/09/17/1189881383578.html

Reef sharks could be wiped out in the Coral Sea unless Australia declares it a Marine Protected Area, conservation group WWF said.

Dr Llewelyn said the total value of Coral Sea tourism, including dive sites such Osprey Reef, was around $11.2 million annually.

So it made good economic sense for the federal government to protect the 780,000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea under Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), she said.

But The Coral Sea would not be declared a fishing no-go area, he said.

It could be managed in the same sustainable way as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where fishing was allowed in some zones along with tourism activities.

Freediver,  this "Charlie", is not your Adrenaline twin is he 

University of Canberra, Professor Bob Kearney has slammed the manufacturing of the scientific sham that was used to force that which should never have been.  Lecturing the Australian Society for fish Biology at Canberra on the 12th September 2007 he cited Bateman’s Bay Marine Park, exposing the false reasons they claimed, and have now locked up.

Bob Kearney, BSc (Hons), PhD, DSc, is Emeritus Professor of Fisheries at the University of Canberra. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Fish Centre, a member of the Research Committees of the Australia & Pacific Science Foundation and the Pacific Biological Foundation, and a member of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee of the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage. He is the author of 150 scientific and technical papers and the recipient of more than $20 million in research grants.

Kearney Says: "The documentation relating to the creation of the Batemans Marine Park is perhaps best described as very poorly disguised advocacy marketed to the unsuspecting public as science. This is a sham. So much so that not only does it totally discredit the Batemans Marine Park but it calls into question the credibility of the Marine Parks Authority and the justification of other Marine PArks along NSW coastline"

The extremist conservation movement are desperate to deceive the public over the Marine Parks (MPA) issue because they know they have no science behind them.

The first involves the complete misuse of a UN report on international fisheries. Although already well known the UN reported that some fish stocks in the deep ocean areas have been over-fished by the large ocean based commercial fishing industry (esp Orange Roughy, Gemfish, Patagonian Toothfish and Southern Bluefin Tuna). HOWEVER the proposed MPAs only extend to the 3 nautical mile limit and will have NO EFFECT whatsoever on any over-fished species in the deep oceans off the east coast of Australia and the NCC know this.

The second involves an NCC concocted "report" called: Empty Oceans, Empty Nets. This report has been condemned not only by the NSW Fisheries but also by the by the Minister in charge of the MPAs himself! NSW Fisheries have officially responded by issuing a statement:

“that no NSW stocks are under threat, nor in imminent danger of collapse. All stocks are being harvested sustainably and constantly monitored by the Fisheries managers.”

At a meeting at Port Stephens on Tuesday March 14 the truth about Marine Parks finally came out. A senior Marine Parks Authority (MPA) representative let two cats out of the Government bag.

The first was that the MPA does not support the principle of "spillover" which the extremist Green groups like the NCC and Wilderness Society have been promoting. Read that again: in front of nearly 1000 witnesses the MPA refused to support for the "spillover effect"!

The second, and to my mind the more stunning admission, was the complete lack of science for Marine Park sanctuary zones. When challenged to produce one skerrick of scientific evidence the representative recounted how they did or did not see fish when they went swimming! I kid you not, this was the sum total of the scientific evidence presented to the 1000 people at Neslon's Bay Bowling Club to support sanctuary zones!

freediver wrote on Oct 8^th, 2007 at 4:13pm:


Heres a scientist opinion

Professor Kearney examined the zoning of beach areas as Sanctuary zones and is scathing in his assessment of the Science paper. The Science paper suggests that for beach fish species, "to effectively provide protection, whole beaches need to be included in single sanctuaries, due to movement along the beach". When the two supporting papers were examined by Professor Kearney he stated that "the logical conclusion from the two papers referenced is that there is no conservation benefit at all from closing sandy beaches as the fish are migratory and not responsive to this type of area management (sanctuary zones)." He concludes "Claiming '"protection"' of ocean beaches by implementing a fishing closure as detailed in the Batemans Marine Park documentation is a total misrepresentation of reality"

The Science paper claims that the main threats to the Batemans Marine Park in terms of biodiversity protection and conservation are "Coastal development, pollution, increased nutrient levels (sewerage and agricultural) and turbidity from urban and industrial discharges that result in the decline of seagrass habitats." Yet none of these threats have been addressed or discussed in the Science paper. Indeed the six sewerage outfalls within the Batemans Marine Park are still pumping away. Of the Marine Park Authority's perceived threats, fishing is the sole one targeted.