" Recreational Anglers Submission and Alternative Zoning Plan"

"The Marine Parks Association has been asked to display the following proposal on it's website. Whilst not exclusively the work of the Marine Parks Association, the submission is supported on the basis that we believe it better represents the views of the public and stakeholder groups involved in the development of the park".

Background to Submission and Alternative Zoning Plan

The public consultation process in the creation of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park ( PSGLMP ) continues to be dogged by the perception that the public's opinion, whilst sought, really doesn't matter. Evidence of this was clearly obvious when the Marine Parks Authority held a public meeting at Pacific Palms on 1/6/2006 resulting in details of their inconsistencies and lies being reported via a Letter to the Editor in The Great Lakes Advocate. The Authority remains silent on these issues.

This lack of public confidence in the system has resulted in various stakeholder groups developing an alternative zoning plan which truly represents the wishes of those most effected by the creation of the park and which addresses the need to develop a fresh approach to the creation and ongoing management of marine reserves.

The following submission provides the NSW Government with a model that meets the requirements of The Marine Parks Act, is considered more broadly acceptable to the public at large and provides even greater protection for the environment with the inclusion of Special Habitat Protection Zones and Seasonal Spawning Closures that are not addressed under the current model.

Most importantly, the proposal was developed by people with first hand experience of their local environment and is supported by scientific data.

Davey (1998) lists eleven reasons why plans for MPAs fail, six of which involve stakeholder input:

They do not address key issues.
They fail to involve stakeholders.
They rely too much on external experts and fail.
To involve local people.
They are weak on implementation.
They fail to raise political support for protected areas as a worthwhile concern.
They are poorly publicised.

This submission focuses on these issues, something we believe the Government and Marine Parks Authority continue to ignore.

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Please show your support for this submission and zoning map by recommending to the Marine Parks Authority that they adopt this proposal in full, rather than the existing Draft Zoning Plan. Use the authorities existing submission form for this purpose, but remember the closing date of 23/9/2006 is fast approaching. Also take the time to express your support by emailing Premier Iemma at lakemba@parliament.nsw.gov.au

29 August 2006
The Hon. Ian McDonald MP
The Hon. Bob Debus MP
The Hon. Jon Jenkins MP

  Written Submission  RE: Great Lakes Port Stephens Marine Park Draft Zoning Plan June 2006 Draft Operational Plan June 2006 Draft Marine Parks Amendment (GLPSMP) Regulation 2006 Under the Marine Parks Act 1997

  To whom it may concern, This document is in response to your invitation to submit comments on the Great Lakes Port Stephens Marine Park draft plan. This document has been composed utilizing the personal knowledge and resources gained from a network of contributors, including the authors, from their collective life long personal experience with matters involving recreational and commercial fishing, both within and beyond the Great Lakes Port Stephens Marine Park.

INTRODUCTION It is now plainly evident to the majority of stakeholders that the current draft plan, if implemented, will not only fail to deliver on its stated objectives, but will prove to have significant divisive and destructive consequences, in environmental, social, economic, and political terms.

The current GLPSMP draft plan clearly contradicts the overriding objectives stated in the governing legislation; The Marine Park Act 1997. The entire Marine Parks project has generated extensive public mistrust and resentment toward the Government, whilst doing nothing of substance to address the real issues presently impacting the Marine environment.

The worst is yet to come; many thousands of casual anglers are as yet unaware of what the Government is planning to do to them. When they eventually do find out there will be unprecedented community outrage.

The Government, by its ill-advised and inflammatory approach, has unwittingly engineered an imminent political backlash, of a magnitude that could easily unseat Labor at the 2007 New South Wales election.

Radical changes to the Marine Park plans are required now, if a political backlash is to be avoided. We urge you not to underestimate the gravity of the decision that the Government is facing.

The purpose of this document is twofold;

1) To provide constructive recommendations for major changes to the Government’s approach to the protection and management of the marine environment. These recommendations, unlike the current draft plans, will result in genuine positive outcomes for all stakeholders, and will mitigate the imminent political damage to the Government.

2) To provide background information on the unique circumstances that has given rise to this debacle. This information is provided as a supporting rationale for the recommendations made as above, and to provide an explanation of the peculiar political and social dynamics of the situation, which the Government has, until now, misconstrued, to its own detriment.

We urge you to give careful consideration to the content of this document, as we believe that these proposals will deliver for the Environment, the Stakeholders, and the Government, a far better and far more feasible outcome than the present draft plan can deliver.

LEGEND FOR ALL MARINE PARKS.

The Recreational Anglers Stakeholder Group holds grave concerns as to the credibility of the proposed Draft zoning for both the current Port Stephens and Batemans Bay Marine Parks. Indeed as to all future and past Marine Parks within this State.

Therefore, we offer an alternative zoning formula, applied to all Marine Parks. This formula should be applied, and remain in place, unless future scientific research, conducted under a disciplined review process and with community acceptance, can prove that recreational angling practices are degrading habitat and biodiversity.

If a Marine Park is to be declared, we propose that their full inshore area, be protected, as a minimum, under a “Habitat Protection Zone”. This would make all Marine Parks100% habitat protected within and out to the 40m depth contour, plus Special Habitat Non Anchor Zones.

“Special Habitat/Non Anchor Zones” should be used to provide precautionary protection to Grey Nurse Sharks and other suspected endangered species. The actual population levels of these species have never been determined scientifically. There has never been any reasonable case made, scientific or otherwise, that locking out recreational anglers is necessary in order to protect these species.

“Seasonal Spawning Closures”, will protect all spawning marine species, on a locally defined basis. This is to be set again with each individual river, lake or estuary system, with the aim to preserve breeding aggregations and juveniles, alike.

“Special Purpose Zones” are selected areas, such as “Fly Point” in Port Stephens, or those which will have credible scientific research to justify their inclusion.

Selected areas to be allocated as “Special Habitat Protection Zones”. Like existing Recreational Fishing Havens, but can allow sustainable commercial practices to co exist, while ensuring habitat protection is preserved. A permit would be required for endorsements to extract sustainable quantities of selected species, under the NSW State Fisheries Act.

“General Use Zone”, is for the remainder of declared parks offshore areas within State limitations.

All fishing activities to be regulated under the NSW State Fisheries Act. Revised bag limits etc. The importance of credible, qualified, professional State Fisheries researchers input, cannot be understated.

This simple zoning formula ensures that continuity, consistency and preservation are set in place for all stakeholders. Indigenous needs are not overlooked, as well as those of incapacitated people who wish to share and use this wonderful resource. Habitat and biodiversity is of grave concern to all. This proposal will ensure that no mistakes are made. For the past, for now and the future……..

We ask that communities in all towns and cities, in all Bioregions, take up this formula and protect their own environment. It is your resource and your responsibility to provide a credible option to preserve our future. As the huge and busy area of the Hawkesbury River system is next in line, the time to act for you is now!

PORT STEPHENS GREAT LAKES MARINE PARK, MANNING SHELF BIOREGION.

1) The Pinnacle, existing Grey Nurse Shark restrictions to remain as they are. A Special Habitat Non Anchor Zone off Cape Hawke, (gps reference point provided).

2) Wallis Lake to be included as a Special Habitat Protection Zone under the NSW State Fisheries Act. A separate submission for new regulations to protect Wallis Lake is attached. Non Anchoring Zones to apply, with seasonal spawning closures.

3) Smiths Lakes, to be scheduled as a Special Habitat Protection Zone, with consideration to the attached proposal from the local community representatives. The University of NSW research station to remain open and unrestricted in its research, as requested. Its value as a research Lake to NSW State Fisheries marine Scientists is recognized and fully supported.

4) Seal Rocks, to be rescheduled with consideration to the attached proposal from members of the local community and Buladelah area.

5) The opening of the Rutile Road, between Tea Gardens and Seal Rocks, with beach access roads opened, to allow access to the beach south of the Big Gibber Headland. This to comply with MPA needs for complete shoreline to deepwater protection zone.

6) Broughton Island. Existing Grey Nurse Shark Zone to remain, with a Special Habitat Non Anchor Zone, seaward. (GPS marks provided.)

7) Port Stephens. Existing Sanctuary to remain at Fly Point as a Special Purpose Zone. A Special Habitat Non Anchor Zone to apply across from Halifax Point to Corrie Island.

8) Rivers. The Karuah River from the old highway bridge upstream, the Myall River from Stoney Point upstream, Boolambayte Creek, from its mouth, upstream, the Wallingat, Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers, upstream from the Port Marker 084 off Rose Point, the Wallamba River, upstream of Port Marker 110 at the Mud Cut, all of these areas to zoned as Bass and Prawn seasonal spawning closures.

9) Commercial activities. Allowed under permit from State Fisheries with sustainable quotas, managed in accordance with Marine Park objectives.

 10) Consultation with NSW State Fisheries is a primary pre requisite for an acceptable outcome.

Rationale for above listed Points.

With the cooperation of the NSW State Fisheries, recreational angling activities in this day and age are controlled by more sustainable bag limits, catch and release fishing and an increasing use of biodegradable artificial baits, lures and non lead sinkers.

At no time during this “consultation” process has the MPA made any claims, or presented any evidence that recreational angling activities result in environmental degradation, neither has there been any discussion of developing creative management options to permit only environmentally compatible angling practices to continue in these zones.

For example,  The proposed sanctuary zoning of all three major coastal reef systems, namely, The Pinnacle, Seal Rocks and Broughton Island, would result in a devastating loss of amenity to both local users and tourism from outside electorates. Our prime concern to us is the inevitable transfer of effort to the other reefs within and outside the Marine Park, and a loss of economic benefits currently derived from these activities.

It must be noted that under the draft proposal, recreational anglers would have lost far too many rights and far too much of their access, while radical conservationists lock up huge areas of this State, without any local scientific research. It is also noticeable that even where Habitat Protection Zones have been placed, the commercial fishing industry has been allowed to retain its beach hauling practices, which deliberately target traveling spawning species. This practice goes against all of the principles that are the basis for the implementation of the park.

The inclusion of Wallis Lake is to protect it from exploitation and over fishing. Translocation of effort or the "spill over effect" could have dire consequences for Wallis Lake if it is not addressed environmentally.

The rutile road between Tea Gardens and Seal Rocks will open up a vast tourism opportunity and give safe access for the general public and angling community. These areas belong to the general public and they are entitled to access. We strongly recommend that further urgent community and industry consultation be conducted.

  Thank you for your consideration of our submission.

This submission need not be regarded as confidential.

                                                                             Yours sincerely,