Blue is the New Green: Support Marine Parks

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Benefits of Marine Parks & Sanctuaries

Marine park and sanctuaries can have multiple benefits for NSW coastal areas including:

· Conservation: They can generate more fish, larger fish, more productive populations, conserve biodiversity and makes populations more resilient

· Social: They provide favourite diving, fishing, swimming and boating spots

· Fishing: They can improve fishing in the area due to reduced commercial effort and potential for spillover from the marine park's sanctuary zones

· Economic: They can increase tourism, be regional marketing tools due to their 'clean and green' image and can create job opportunities

The 2006 State Plan states that the NSW Government is "already committed to building a network of marine protected areas to comprehensively represent marine biodiversity", and will consider "Building and managing a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system which includes…marine parks to protect the State's unique biodiversity from current and future pressures".

Despite over 300 scientific studies supporting marine parks and sanctuaries, and calls for action from NSW marine scientists, NSW is still far from having the necessary system it needs.

If managed correctly marine park and sanctuaries have the potential to provide real and long-lasting benefits to NSW communities.

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