nice work scotty i sent 20 off today in the post from work

Good stuff, all done for now

Cheers

Dale

Cheers Scotty for the hard yards, I have emailed my submission & will be fwd'ing the link to my fellow fishing mates

Good one Scotty. Makes it VERY easy to make a submission!

I urge everyone to click the link and send an email.

it and sent to all my friends

Good works guys...heaps of pollies are CCed in on these emails....which should get their attention!

Cheers ceratainly makes it easier.  Have forwarded it to a few fellow fishers.  I note here in SA we also have marine parks and sanctuary zones being implimented by the state goverment as well somewhat duplicating the whole process.  State Goverment are more so doing the coastal waters and the Feds doing the commonwealth waters further offshore.  My fishing spots of Streaky/sceale bay are being hit substatially by both state and feds having a huge impact on a friend who runs a charter there.  Gotta question where he is going to fish soon without picking up and moving from the area he was brought up/lives in.

Paul

Keep em coming guys. We have more than 200 responses already, plus a heck of a lot more done through tackle shops!

Thanks to all who have already done it!

 Only 200 ..... FFS 

The conservation groups (The Blue Army Coalition) have their members (>20,000) doing exactly the same thing, but demanding significant changes. I popped into one of their presentations at a sustainability fair 6 weeks ago and this is what i learnt:

 They are extremely well organised. They're going to have booths and presentations at every 'fair' for the next 2 months. There's fliers and stickers being given out and petitions to be signed.

 

The current Park and Sanctuary Plan (The Plan), when released for comment, is considered a bare minimum – they will be gunning for more.

While they consider recreational fishers to be their main opposition and have people organised to media watch our campaign and refute our claims at every turn, their view is that recreational fishers are a ‘rabble’ and are perceived as constant complainers by politians and will not be given due consideration.

 

A lot of their campaign will revolve around preserving marine mammal habitat as people relate better to whales and dolphins and areas of high biodiversity.

They have 20,000 individuals ready to submit commentary, possibly in pro-forma.

 

The current state and federal environment ministers are not willing to lead on the issue – they have made it clear that the Blue Army coalition must have considerable public support to effect changes on The Plan.

They would like to see extensive sanctuary zones over the following areas: Cape Naturaliste – Cape Leewin, Geographe Bay, the Abrolhos, the Kimberley and extensions to sanctuaries at Ningaloo.

Western Australia is a test case for rolling out The Plan nation wide.

 

 

So now is your chance to make sure what you love is there for the future. Make yourself heard!

Nice insight into what drives these people there Dr. Sounds like they may have got well ahead of themselves...many of these people saying fishos are a "rabble" are of course full-time paid lobbyists...must be nice to be able to devote your entire day to such causes.

We had some server issues with the website earlier this week, but it is back up and running for online submissions again. www.rla.net.au

Last few days...anyone who hasn't put one in please do so.

Speak now or forever hold your peace.

I think you need to get your facts right Scotty and Dr Shreds. I went to a meeting as i was interested in what they have to say and your not wrong they are very organised. They have had over 20000 submissions but they are not wanting to just lock it all up to stop fisherman. they want to stop fisherman but my opinion is they really want to lock out mining. The amount of Land (ocean ) leases the government is trying to sell at the moment is unbelievable. Also they are trying to lock out drag netting. Currently the Drag netters have a submission in waiting for government approval to start drag netting of Rottnest. Can you imagine the damage.

But my big question is why not have some marine parks in well placed areas that will protect the ocean for the next generations and beyond? Do you really think at the rate we are going our kids we ever see a decent fish in ten years? 

I say don't be so selfish and lets work and suggest areas of protection. 

People like parks, they like national parks but when it comes to the ocean they just want to rape it for all its worth. It is a dwindling environment and we need to do something to help ourselves.

Look at what the Marine Sanctuary has done for the three kings area in NZ?

I of all people will feel the effect being in the marine industry and will possibly get stick on here for my opinion but lets think about our kids, not just ourselves.  

Strong financial links to mining interests.

Strong personal links to mining interests.

Mining to be assessed on a "case by case" basis in marine parks.

Yep, they are really out to get mining.

Send Tim Nicol my regards, and also Google some of the stuff he has claimed about marine parks while you are at it.

Cons Council is part of Save Our Marine Life, which is financially supported by Pew.

Pew was orginally born out of an oil company.

One of the most vocal Save Our Marine Life campaigners is very closely linked to mining interests in WA.

A senior staffer for the Federal Environment Minister told me mining would be assessed on a "case by case basis" in marine parks when I quizzed him.

Hi all,

Have updated the website, www.rla.net.au,  and you can now put in your submissions on the draft plan for the North-West there.

Draft plan can be found here...

http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/north-west/consultation/index.html#plan

Sounds like the Feds are looking at conceding some ground to the Greens on this stuff...with the Rottnest Trench and Geographe Bay being mentioned in dispatches.

You want to be heard...