Blue is the New Green: Support Marine Parks

Please complete the two steps below to help support our marine parks.

Step 1; Help us block a Marine Park Moratorium

The NSW Shooters Party has introduced a Bill to Parliament to place a 5 year moratorium on the creation of new marine parks and the expansion of sanctuary areas within existing marine parks.

This follows a strong campaign by this party to discredit marine parks with fictitious claims of no science and damage to local economies. This is despite overwhelming scientific support, increases in tourism and huge community support for marine parks.

An unprecedented alliance of 38 conservation organisations representing more than 590,000 Australians has condemned the State government's support for this Marine Parks Amendment (Moratorium) Bill as a dangerous set back for marine conservation in NSW.

Currently just 6.7% of NSW oceans are fully protected in sanctuaries, whilst international recommendations are for a minimum 20%.

The Bill will be introduced into the Upper House during the next parliamentary sitting starting 31 August 2010.

Your urgent support is needed now to block this Bill

ACTION! Click here to fill out your online letter

Step 2: Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay marine protection is under threat!

The protective zonings for both the Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay Marine Parks are being reviewed.

- Anti-marine park lobbyists are running a strong misinformation campaign to generate support for zonings which decrease protection in these marine parks, and increase fishing pressures to across nearly all of the parks.

- The Marine Parks Authority's government proposal for zoning offers some improved zoning for both parks but does not go far enough for iconic areas such as reefs and habitat for critically endangered species.

- NPA and the Nature Conservation Council's proposal offers a balance between protecting key habitat in the parks and enabling more sustainable fishing to continue across the majority of the parks.

ACTION! We need you to make an urgent submission to support our improved zoning maps for both marine parks and to assist you in doing so we have prepared an e-submission form for each park

To make your contribution as effective as possible you are encouraged to:

1. Answer the standard questions
2. Add personal comments (such as your support for sanctuaries) in the relevant sections. This is essential for your submission to be considered as an individual submission.

ACTION A) Sign your Solitary Islands Marine Park form here

…then come back to this page to …..

ACTION B) Sign your Jervis Bay Marine Park form here

Deadline for submissions is 17 September 2010. Once you have signed your forms please pass this around to your friends.

Thank you