KAF
The Australian recreational-fishing community calls a betrayal the decision of federal environment minister Tony Burke to formally designate 44 marine reserves and lock out anglers from more than a half-million square miles of the continent’s coastal waters. A Fishing World magazine online report cites a spokesman for Keep Australia Fishing as stating, “Environment Minister Tony Burke has caved in to pressure from environmental lobbyists to create a flawed and uninspiring marine-parks plan. He had the chance to create marine-protected areas that achieved key conservation goals yet recognised the unique socio-economic benefits of a sustainable recreational fishing sector. However, it is clear … that Minister Burke has simply toed the line given to him by the environmental lobby.”
The report also notes “the minister’s decision to reward the commercial-fishing sector with $100 million in taxpayer-funded compensation.” Not a penny is earmarked for the recreational-fishing industry. “Anglers won’t forget that our federal government has this day treated us with contempt,” says the KAF spokesman.
Commonwealth marine reserves: South-west | North-west | North | Great Barrier Reef | Coral Sea | Temperate East | South-east |Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Courtesy of http://www.environment.gov.au/
