http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/marine-park-plan-risks-lives/story-e6frea6u-1225996725797

THE State Government's marine park conservation proposal puts lives at risk, warns the SA Sea Rescue Squadron.

And small businesses say the creation of fishing exclusion zones in marine parks across the state will cripple tourism, leading to job losses and bankruptcies.

The rescue squadron says the creation of no-fishing "sanctuary zones" at popular spots will force recreational fishers further out to sea and put them at "very grave" risk of injury or death.

Squadron Commodore Joan Stanton said the group would soon present a report about the safety threat posed by the zones to Environment and Conservation Minister Paul Caica.

The Commodore said: "We know fish stocks need to be enlarged but people will be put in danger because the (offshore) 'no-fishing' zones will force them to go further out to sea.

"And if tourists and non-experienced boaties are forced to go out to the deep blue waters and the wind comes up quickly their little dinghies will be tossed around like a feather."

The sanctuary zones will be located in the proposed 19 marine parks, with some zones stretching several kilometres offshore at locations including Aldinga Beach, Middleton, Kangaroo Island, near Robe, the Coorong and Elliston on the west coast.

The Environment Department said it was working with fishers to make sure safety problems and threats to tourism and recreation fishing are "minimised where possible".

Department chief executive Allan Holmes said the parks proposal was to ensure "that whole marine environments are protected for the future in the face of threats like climate change" and were "an investment in the future of many coastal tourist economies".

But the sanctuary zones have the potential to destroy tourism and must not be established as planned, Ceduna Mayor Alan Sutter said.

"If 25 per cent of the marine parks are declared no-fishing zones, then I can see businesses failing and jobs being lost on a very large scale," he said.

Aldinga Bay Traders and Tourist Association spokesman Andrew Koukourou said recreational fishing was one of the area's major attractions.

"But no one will come down here, if a 'no-fishing' zone is established, and there will be a domino effect on holiday accommodation, restaurants and takeaway food shops, as well as tackle, bait and gear sales,'' he said.

Port Lincoln tackle shop owner Damien Smart said the "current proposal won't work" because it will have a devastating effect on tourism.

This month Mr Smart organised meetings attracting hundreds of people to raise awareness of the proposal.