Disappointingly - but not unexpectedly - the management plan process for the national marine reserve network was rushed so the Government could meet its agenda. As a result, there was no genuine consultation with local stakeholders about how the 2.4 million square kilometres of Marine Reserves will be managed. The Government had allowed only a token 30-day public submission period to review and comment on the plans. 

 

The Marine Reserve Management plans have been formed into regulation and have been tabled for approval by both Houses of Commonwealth Parliament. If uncontested, through a disallowance motion, the regulations will become law and Australian recreational fishers will be locked out of around 1.3 million square kilometers of our seas. This will be the biggest lock out of Aussie fishos in Australian History. 

 

The Government will implement the management plans on 1 July 2014. Till that time, the status quo exists in all proposed marine reserve areas. 

 

KAF, in conjunction with other fishing organisations such as AFTA, ARFF, ANSA, AUF and GFAA, has been actively lobbying the Government and Coalition on this issue. But we need to do more if we are to stop the lockout becoming law. 

 

We are organizing a number of activities, such as write-in and phone-in campaigns and local rallies, to raise the profile of our issue with the community. 

 

We will be asking for your help on these activities. We will keep you posted through the KAF website, Facebook page and newsletter of these activities and will let you know how you can help us protect your fishing rights. 

 

We are also seeking commitments from the Coalition that if elected after September 14 they will review the regulations and reverse the Biggest Aussie Angler Lock out in History.

 

Last month the NSW Government announced their response to the independent report into Marine Parks. The NSW Government will set up an independent scientific based panel to assess whether recreational fishing can occur in sanctuary zones. The review will take place over the next six months. In the meantime the NSW Government has provided an amnesty for recreational fishers to fish selected sanctuary areas from the beach or rocks. 

This is a step in the right direction and brings science rather than politics back into decision-making on marine park access. KAF has urged the federal Government to adopt a similar approach to its planned marine reserves. Unfortunately, Environment Minister Tony Burke and his colleagues in the federal Government seem to have stopped listening to common sense!

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The Orange City Council still continues to prepare for the construction of the pipeline even though the go ahead has not been given. The pipeline – which threatens iconic native fish such as Murray cod, trout cod, golden perch and other species in the Macquarie River near Bathurst in central-western NSW - still requires approval from Environment Minister Tony Burke before it can be constructed. A delegation from the Friends of the Macquarie group met with Minister Burke’s office in March where they were informed that an application for the pipeline had not been received. 

KAF will continue to work with the Friends of the Macquarie to ensure commonsense prevails on this issue. Please let us know on if you can assist us in any way.

 

 

Keep Australia Fishing is working with the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation and other national and state organisations to develop a National Charter for recreational fishers. 

 

Australia needs a National Charter for recreational fishing so that the important role recreational fishing plays within our community is recognized and enhanced by decision makers and the broader Australian community. 

To date governments, policy makers and the broader community have not recognized the full range of economic, social and environmental benefits recreational fishing brings to all Australians.

 

Appointment of a parliamentary secretary for recreational fishing sitting within an appropriate senior portfolio.

 

Establishment of a Recreational Fishing Council, chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary for Recreational fishing with representatives from other key portfolios and key representatives from the recreational fishing community. 

 

The Australian Sport Commission should officially recognize recreational fishing as a sport.

 

Investment by Government and the private sector is required to ensure the following key activities are delivered. 

 

A comprehensive review of the IUCN categories used for determining activities with in marine reserves and marine national parks, assessing their application to Australian reserve systems and their relevance to Australian conditions – that is, we shouldn’t get locked out of an area unless there is a valid scientific, social or economic reason to do so. 

 

It is proposed to develop a national education strategy to facilitate and co-ordinate educational activities at the national, state and local levels. This should cover issues like getting kids fishing and educating adults about the health and lifestyle benefits of fishing.

 

It is proposed to develop a dedicated public/ private sector research trust fund that can work with existing research funding mechanisms to focus research on priority areas for recreational fishing policy development. As recreational fishers we should know more about our contribution to the economy, society and the environment. A dedicated research program will assist governments and the broader community to understand the benefits of recreational fishing.

 

It is proposed to establish a dedicated public/ private sector environmental trust fund that will work with existing finding mechanisms and on ground organizations to facilitate activities that enhance and protect our riverine and marine habitat. Recreational fishers are true environmentalists and often lead the community in the protection and of our riverine and marine systems. 

 

To ensure all sides of politics take notice of our claims KAF will be organizing a Support Campaign for the Charter. Tell us your ideas about what you would like to see in a Charter for Australian recreational fishers by email us at