[Greens-Media] Another NSW government attack on environment with cuts to marine protection

[Peter Stahel]

Another NSW government attack on environment with cuts to marine protection

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has condemned
the government's move today to disallow the small improvements to
marine protection put in place in January by the previous government.

The Marine Parks (Zoning Plans) Amendment (Solitary Islands and Jervis
Bay Marine Parks) Regulation 2011 made under the Marine Parks Act
1997, increased sanctuary zones in the Solitary Islands Marine Park
from 12 per cent to 19 per cent of the park. The government will today
overturn this regulation in the Parliament. **

"There is no doubt in my mind that the government is doing the bidding
of an extreme element within the recreational fishing lobby and the
Shooters and Fishers Party," said Ms Faehrmann.

"What government legislation has been given secure passage through the
Upper House with this attack on the NSW environment?

"The Coalition is in denial about the huge body of evidence
accumulated over decades on the value of marine parks and sanctuary
zones. The much loved Australian pastime of fishing is at risk under
the new Coalition government because of its wholesale disregard for
sound marine science.

"Without sanctuary zones, the NSW fishing industry has a grim outlook.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to get that providing some
areas for fish to recover and breed safe from harm is good for fish
numbers. There are literally hundreds of studies which show this.

"A recent Parliamentary inquiry into recreational fishing was
presented with a bibliography of 1,098 articles from around the world
concerning the effectiveness of marine parks by Professor Booth at the
Australian Marine Sciences Association," said Ms Faehrmann.

**The government's disallowance motion (see below) will be debated in
the House of Assembly at approximately 3:15PM, but this could be
subject to change at short notice.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727



BUSINESS WITH PRECEDENCE
NOTICES OF MOTION—
1 MS KATRINA HODGKINSON to move—
That this House disallows the Marine Parks (Zoning Plans) Amendment
(Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay
Marine Parks) Regulation 2011 made under the Marine Parks Act 1997
which was published on the NSW
Legislation website on 27 January 2011 and tabled in this House 3 May 2011.
(Notice given 24 May 2011)