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Fishermen demand income clarity

Posted on February 3, 2009, 4:04pm

South East fishermen today fired questions at Department of Environment and Heritage officials during a marine park information session at Port MacDonnell, demanding clarity on whether their incomes would be affected.

“We don’t know yet how many no-take zones there will be, we don’t have any indications yet,” DEH community engagement officer Phil Hollow told the crowd.

“However, if any fishermen are displaced, there has to be compensation.

“We are working closely with communities to find common ground and the last thing we want to do is to displace fishermen.”

The information session followed Environment Minister Jay Weatherill’s announcement of the provisional boundaries for 19 marine parks in the state, including two in the South East.

The Upper South East marine park will extend north to 42 Mile Crossing and south to Nora Creina, while the Lower South East Marine Park, which is divided into two sections, will stretch over 532 square kilometres of the South East; from Nene Valley Rock to Cape Buffon and from the Finger Point carpark to the Victorian border.

A call to make submissions and attend information sessions across the South East, including in Mount Gambier today, has been made to give communities a chance to learn more about the marine parks.

The Minister has six months to make a final decision on the boundaries. A management plan, including sanctuary (or no-take) zones, will be developed over the next two years.

According to Mr Hollow, the management plans are expected to designate most of the marine park areas for general use and “small sanctuary zones”.

No activities that involve the removal or damage of plants or animals in these zones will be allowed, while boating, snorkelling and swimming will still be allowed.

Port MacDonnell commercial rock lobster fisherman Morris Leggett told The Border Watch that marine parks were unnecessary.

“We have been doing rock lobster fishing in this town in a commercial way since after World War Two. If we have damaged the habitat or anything in the sea since then, nothing would have been left by now,” Mr Leggett said.

“They can’t just draw a line and tell you that’s where to travel in the sea. It varies depending on the conditions of the sea and I don’t think the Minister has any idea what he is doing.”

Nene Vally amateur fisherman Simon McInnes agreed.

“It’s bullshit. They are gonna bleed us, they will give us a bit of information and in two years time put in no-take and no-go zones,” he said.

“They compare the South East to metropolitan waters, but we don’t have any trawlers running here, damaging the bottom of the ocean.

SA Rock Lobster Advisory Council executive officer Michael Tokley also expressed concern at the announcement of the marine parks.

“We are a sustainable industry that supports sound marine conservation,” he said.

“We would appreciate the minister identifying areas designated as sanctuary zones and invite full and frank discussion with the various stakeholders as to whether or not potential benefits for the conservation of the marine environment exist or are realistic.

“There are a lot of jobs at stake and this uncertainty about our future comes at a time when the economy is suffering because of the financial crisis that is affecting everyone.”

ANELIA BLACKIE

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