NT Fishing Report

with Alex Julius               12 August 2010

If you’re like me, no matter how much you might normally be into the politics of the nation, right now you probably feel you’ve had it right up to the eyeballs.

Having said that, if you love your fishing, you need to understand that, for the first time ever in a federal election, a major recreational fishing issue is on the table.

A media release from the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) – on its www.lovefishing.com.au website – is worth quoting in terms of the importance of this election to recreational fishermen.

“Most anglers treasure their pastime and as a result are true conservationists of the marine environment,” the AFTA release states.

“However, the looming federal election hides a threat to all anglers and will prove a pivotal point in the history of recreational fishing in Australia.

“For this reason, it is most important that anglers take far more care in voting than ever before!

“The Greens have played their hand and stated that they intend to turn an absolute minimum of 30% of Australian Commonwealth waters into marine parks. This is on top of extensive existing and proposed state-based marine parks.

According to AFTA: “Considering that marine parks are revised every 5-10 years, and more or larger Sanctuary Zones are created each revision, then it is feasible that, within a short period of time, we could be banned from fishing virtually all of our favourite areas if The Greens secure the balance of power in the Australian Senate.”

Anglers intending to vote for either of the major parties should be aware that The Australian Labor Party has entered into a preference deal with The Greens, so think about where you place your preferences.

If the Greens get the balance of power in The Senate, then fishing as we know it, particularly for our kids, could be a thing of the past.

On the subject of marine protected areas (MPAs), a couple of weeks ago I reported on the announcement from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that, if elected, his Government would freeze the gazetting of new marine parks around the country.

In my opinion, the ad hoc creation of marine parks, based on anecdotal, biased and emotionally-based "science" has been the single, most-important issue facing recreational fishermen in the 21st century.

Mr Abbott said: “A Coalition government will take immediate action to ensure that future Marine Protected Areas balance environmental preservation with economic growth and strong coastal communities.

“In establishing Marine Protected Areas, the Coalition will consult closely with those people and industries who use the marine environment, including the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, to determine Marine Protected Area management plans in accordance with relevant legislation and other regulatory frameworks,” the Opposition Leader stated.

“It's very important that we don't do anything as a government that unreasonably threatens the livelihood of fishing industries and the tourism industries upon which so much of Australia depends. “The Coalition supports a balanced approach to marine conservation and will immediately put on hold the Marine Bioregional Planning process,” Mr Abbott said.

I was also interest in a paper doing the rounds of representative fishing groups.

It was written by Dr Walter Starck PhD whose research interest has centered on coral reef biology and has included research grants and contracts from the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research and National Geographic Society.

Amongst other things, Dr Starck states: “The recent policy announcement by the Coalition regarding Marine Protected Areas is a hopeful first step in the direction of a return to environmental reality away from political pandering to the eco delusions of the Greens. It is important to recognise a few home truths regarding MPAs:
•    They are a costly hypothetical solution to a problem which doesn’t exist.
•    They have no effect on pollution or climate change and the possibility of overfishing is already more than adequately addressed by the most costly and restrictive fisheries management in the world.
•    There is no threat to marine biodiversity. We have never lost even one marine species from any human cause and none are threatened with extinction.
•    The Law of the Sea Treaty under which we claim EEZ rights provides that other nations may petition to access our resources if we are not utilising them. It would be difficult for Australia to sustain an argument that vast no-take MPAs are a ‘use’ of fisheries resources.
•    The Biodiversity Treaty which has been cited as requiring the declaration of MPAs also requires that traditional uses be protected. Recreational and commercial fishing are traditional uses going back to first settlement by both indigenous and colonial peoples.
•    The crash program of MPA implementation amounts to large scale environmental meddling with no proper assessment of either needs or consequences. It is simply cheap pandering for green votes.
•    Over recent years numerous large scale clinical and epidemiological studies published in the world’s leading medical journals have found significant health benefits from increased seafood consumption. Translated into reduced health care costs, it could save Australia billions of dollars per year not to mention the improved quality of life for millions of Australians.”

In the Territory, AFANT Executive Officer, Chris Makepeace, welcomed the Coalition announcement: “It was the major topic at our AFANT annual meeting in March because of our concerns about the Federal Government’s proposed no-go, no-take zones in the NT.

“If the Opposition in Government intends putting the current process on hold, that’s excellent, and we would certainly endorse this policy,” the AFANT Executive Officer said.
You might wish to check out the AFTA television commercial on Youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpxZv9aab1Q.

 Below: Carlo Esmaquel fights a GT during the session. (photos: Peter Zeroni)

Below: Fishing and Outdoor World’s Ron Voukolos – pictured with a Spanish mackerel – had a smashing Vernon Islands’ jigging session with Peter Zeroni, Matty West and Carlo Esmaquel.