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A LETTER TO THE MARINE PARKS AUTHORITY BY FILLING OUT THE FORM BELOW
PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN
COMMENTS IN THE SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND THESE WILL BE
SENT ALONG WITH YOUR LETTER.
I am writing to urge you to support an increase in fully protected
Sanctuary Zones within the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) and the
Solitary Islands Marine Reserve (SIMR). An increase in sanctuary protection
for these parks will bring New South Wales closer to world targets of
20-30% full protection of the oceans by 2012 and put in place better
long-term management for our marine waters. At present, a mere 6.7%
of NSW marine waters are fully protected from fishing activities.
I strongly support the following actions for both the Solitary Islands
Marine Park and the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve during this review
process:
1.Increased Sanctuary Zone protection. Currently, only 12% of
the SIMP and only 1% of the SIMR are fully protected as sanctuary. Sanctuaries
have been shown to increase the numbers, species and size of marine
life in these fully protected areas. I support at least a 33% sanctuary
zone percentage for both the SIMP and the SIMR. These levels of protection
would be much closer to the level of protection of the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park and Ningaloo Marine Park.
2. No more trawling and seine netting in these waters. Even though
the Commonwealth Government committed in 2001 to ending trawling and
seine netting in the SIMR, the Marine Parks Authority has not upheld
its commitment and therefore the reserve continues to be under pressure
from fishing. The SIMP faces similar pressure from fishing as the SIMR.
3. More protection for our shark species . Shark fishing has
increased significantly in recent years in the SIMP, placing increased
pressures on these important apex predators. Meanwhile, inadequate protection
exists for the critically endangered grey nurse shark from the threats
of incidental catch in other shark fisheries and from recreational fishing.
Therefore, fishing within the SIMP and SIMR is negatively impacting
the recovery of the grey nurse shark and targeted shark fishing should
be removed from the parks to alleviate pressure on the grey nurse and
other shark species.
This is the first review for both the Solitary Islands Marine Park and
the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve and another review will not occur
before 2018. It is therefore critical that the NSW Government act now
to increase protection of these marine waters and safeguard them for
the future.
Yours Sincerely
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