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MEDIA RELEASES 20 February 2006 'Give Fish a Chance' campaign launched at Port Stephens An alliance of conservation groups today used a giant inflatable seadragon and kayaks to launch a campaign to promote sanctuaries in the new Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. The campaign is designed to ensure that there are enough of these fully protected areas to safeguard our marine wildlife. "The Give Fish a Chance campaign encourages the public to become involved in persuade the NSW Government to provide large areas of the marine park which are safe from fishing. This will allow our fish and other marine life to breed and increase their populations," said Claire Dunn of The Wilderness Society. "In addition to safeguarding our precious marine environment, better management through restricting fishing in some areas has been proven to improve catches outside these sanctuaries. A 'spillover effect' means that more and larger fish are available near the sanctuaries for both recreational and commercial fishers," Cate Faehrmann of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW continued. "Today environment groups have come together to call on the NSW Government to show serious commitment towards the creation of large sanctuary areas," said Andrew Cox of the National Parks Association of NSW. "These are essential if this marine park is going to deliver wins for the environment and the local economy." "Such sanctuary areas must be allocated based upon the best available science," concluded Darrell Dawson of EcoNetwork - Port Stephens. "All we are saying is Give Fish a Chance," Environment groups supporting the Give Fish a Chance campaign are Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) members (Australian Marine Conservation Society, Community Environment Network, Hunter Community Environment Centre, National Parks Association of NSW, Nature Conservation Council of NSW and The Wilderness Society), EcoNetwork - Port Stephens, the Great Lakes Environment Association and the Myall Koala and Environmental Support Group. The groups are calling for large sanctuary zones based upon the
best available science. SEA is specifically campaigning for: Media Contacts: Thursday 15 December 2005 New Proof that Marine Sanctuaries Work The Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) today welcomed the latest research that shows that marine sanctuaries are effective at helping the recovery of fish populations. This week, Professor Bruce Mapstone from the Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (CRC) announced that the results of an 11-year study into the effects of line fishing on the Great Barrier Reef showed that using marine sanctuaries, or no-take zones to allow spawning is highly successful. The research has shown that marine sanctuaries are effective in protecting fish stocks. This protection allows them to breed more successfully and directly contributes to the recovery of fish populations. Nicky Hammond, spokesperson for the National Parks Association of NSW said "We know that many fish stocks in NSW waters, such as snapper are overfished as a result of commercial and recreational fishing. We now have a local example of how marine sanctuaries can help fish stocks recover supporting existing international research." "With less than 3 per cent of NSW waters in marine sanctuaries, we still fall a long way short of the 20%-50% marine sanctuaries that have been recommended to protect all fish stocks," Ms Hammond said Megan Kessler, Fisheries and Marine Networker for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said "It has long been clear that marine sanctuaries or 'no-take' zones are the most practical solution to the decline in marine biodiversity in NSW." "This latest research by the CRC simply highlights the fact that marine sanctuaries will also benefit commercial and recreational fishers and the tourism industries that depend on them. We hope that this information will encourage recreational and commercial fishers to get behind the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park and start working towards its implementation," Ms Kessler said. Ms Claire Dunn, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society Newcastle continued "This research highlights the fact that the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park will be of massive benefit to the local area if appropriate marine sanctuaries are created. We must use this opportunity to ensure that the process to determine the boundaries for protection inside the Park is science driven and based on clear targets for habitat protection ensuring fish spawning grounds and nursery areas receive particular attention." "This research also demonstrates the inaccuracies currently being spread by some members of the local community about the marine park. Despite the rhetoric of the anti-marine park lobby, it is clear that marine parks and marine sanctuaries are good for the marine environment and the local communities that rely on it." SEA involves a range of groups who are working together for a better protected, well managed and healthier NSW marine environment. SEA is calling for a system of marine sanctuaries, or 'no-take', zones to be established in NSW waters. For more information on SEA visit www.sea.org.au Contacts: Wednesday 30 November 2005 Manning Announcement Step in the Right Direction The Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) today welcomed the Premier's announcement of a marine park in the Manning Shelf Bioregion. This is a valuable first step in increasing protection of our marine wildlife in the Port Stephens area. However SEA recognises there is still a long way to go to ensure all biodiversity in the region is appropriately protected. SEA involves a range of groups who are working together for a better protected, well managed and healthier NSW marine environment. SEA is calling for a system of marine sanctuaries, or 'no-take', zones to be established in NSW waters. Ms Claire Dunn, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society, Newcastle said, "The Minister has announced that there will be a Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park that will include the Port Stephens estuary, Smiths Lake, Myall Lake and adjacent offshore areas." "The areas flagged in last night's announcement include important seagrass, wetland areas and rock platforms, home to internationally protected bird species. While creating a marine park in this area is a good first step, until sanctuary zones are established these areas will have no real protection." Ms Nicky Hammond, spokesperson for the National Parks Association of NSW said, "SEA remains concerned that the region of the Manning Shelf to the north of the marine park has been ignored in this announcement. This area also contains a number of vital marine habitats in need of protection, including Queens Lake and Lake Cathie." "SEA is particularly disappointed that key habitat for the Grey Nurse Shark at the Cod Grounds and South West Rocks remain outside of sanctuary zones." Mr Craig Bohm, National Fisheries Campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society continued, "SEA welcomes the announcement of the long awaited zoning plan for Cape Byron Marine Park. Details remain scarce but we hope this zoning will greatly improve protection for the marine environment in this area." Ms Megan Kessler, spokesperson for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW concluded, "The Premier also foreshadowed a marine park in the Batemans Shelf Bioregion in the vicinity of Brush Island to Wallaga Lake. SEA looks forward to the announcement of firm marine park boundaries that will protect a representative sample of all marine habitats in the bioregion." For more information on SEA visit www.sea.org.au Contacts: Tuesday 28 November 2005 Saltwater Environment Alliance Cautiously Welcomes Manning Marine Park The Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) is today cautiously welcoming the news of tonight's expected announcement by the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma regarding marine parks in the Manning bioregion. SEA involves a range of groups who are working together for a better protected, well managed and healthier NSW marine environment. SEA is calling for a system of marine sanctuaries, or 'no-take', zones to be established in NSW waters. "The anticipated marine parks announcement, foreshadowed in today's media, has the potential to significantly increase protection of the marine environment in the Manning Bioregion (Stockton to Nambucca Heads)," said The Wilderness Society spokesperson, Ms Claire Dunn. However, the group expressed concerns that if the marine park process in the Manning followed the example of marine parks in other regions, very little real protection would be provided. "Marine parks in NSW are multiple use - this means that the creation of a marine park can only protect an area from oil and gas exploration. It is the zones within these parks which give protection and sanctuary zones are the only areas that provide complete protection for marine wildlife," Ms Nicky Hammond, spokesperson for the National Parks Association said. "Real protection for the marine environment requires a system of large marine parks and marine sanctuaries running from Stockton to Nambucca Heads. "Based on the best science available, this should include protecting 20-50% of all marine waters, including a representative sample of all marine habitats, in sanctuary zones," said Mr Craig Bohm, National Fisheries Campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society. "It is particularly important that all key habitat areas for the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark are protected with 1,500m sanctuary zones. In the Manning, this means protecting Fish Rock and Green Island off South West Rocks, Mermaid Reef off Laurieton, Latitude Reef, Spot A and The Pinnacle off Forster, Big and Little Seal Rocks, and Little Broughton Island off Port Stephens," Ms Megan Kessler, spokesperson for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said. "Anything less would be condemning the Grey Nurse Shark to extinction." For more information on SEA visit www.sea.org.au Contacts: Wednesday 23 November 2005
Members of the Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) will visit Harrington and Taree today and tomorrow to share information about the benefits of marine sanctuaries in the region. SEA involves a range of groups who are working together for a better protected, well managed and healthier NSW marine environment. SEA is calling for a system of marine sanctuaries, or 'no-take', zones to be established in NSW waters. Ms Claire Dunn, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society, said "NSW marine ecosystems and the life they support are under serious threat from over-fishing. With less than 3 per cent of NSW waters in marine sanctuaries, protection of our marine environment must be a priority for the NSW Government." "Marine sanctuaries or 'no-take' zones are the most practical solution to the decline in marine biodiversity in NSW. More than 1600 international scientists and conservationists have backed a call for at least 20 per cent of the seas to be protected from fishing by the year 2020. Marine sanctuaries are one component of a marine park," Ms Dunn said. Nicky Hammond, spokesperson for the National Parks Association of NSW continued "Marine parks are beneficial for local communities - the Solitary Islands Marine Park experience has shown that they enhance tourism. There is also significant research to show that marine sanctuaries, the no-take zones within marine parks, enhance fish populations and the fishing experience in surrounding areas." "Despite these positives, there has been significant misinformation in the Harrington and Taree community about marine parks. NSW marine parks are multi-use meaning that most areas of the park remain open to all activities except oil and gas drilling and there are no areas that have a complete 'lock-out'," Ms Hammond said. "Marine sanctuaries do exclude commercial and recreational fishing but activities such as swimming, surfing and boating can continue." Megan Kessler, Fisheries and Marine Networker for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said "SEA believes that there are a number of important marine habitats in the Taree area that would benefit from the increased protection that marine sanctuaries can provide." "One such area is Khappinghat Creek and the adjacent reefs including Diamond Head and Old Bar. The Manning Shelf Bioregional Assessment states that this area 'may be the only opportunity in the bioregion to protect an estuary for which both waters and surrounding lands have been left relatively undisturbed'," Ms Kessler concluded. For more information on SEA visit www.sea.org.au Contacts: Wednesday 7th September 2005
Saltwater Environment Alliance launched on National Threatened Species Day
Today, National Threatened Species Day, peak environment groups in NSW launched the Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) aboard Imagine Cruises in Port Stephens.
SEA involves a range of groups who are working together for a better protected, well managed and healthier NSW marine environment.
SEA is calling for a system of marine sanctuaries, or 'no-take', zones to be established in NSW waters. The alliance invites other supporters of marine sanctuaries to join the Marine Sanctuaries in NSW Consensus Statement also launched today.
Cate Faehrmann, Director of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW commented, "Today's launch of the Saltwater Environment Alliance marks a historic day for marine conservation. For the first time, an alliance of peak environment groups in NSW have come together to urgently call on the NSW Government to create a system of sanctuaries for our oceans."
"NSW marine ecosystems and the life they support are under serious threat from over-fishing. With less than 3 per cent of NSW waters in marine sanctuaries, protection of our marine environment must be a priority for the NSW Government," concluded Ms Faehrmann.
Nicky Hammond, spokesperson for the National Parks Association of NSW commented "Marine sanctuaries or 'no-take' zones are the most practical solution to the decline in marine biodiversity in NSW. More than 1600 international scientists and conservationists have backed a call for at least 20 per cent of the seas to be protected from fishing by the year 2020."
"Marine sanctuaries provide a haven for our marine plants and animals but also benefit fishers by increasing depleted fish stocks, protecting nursery and breeding grounds, and providing spill-over fish outside the sanctuary areas," concluded Ms Hammond.
Claire Dunn, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society Newcastle said, "The Saltwater Environment Alliance will be conducting a public awareness program in the Manning Shelf Bioregion to educate the community of the benefits of marine sanctuaries. We are inviting local environment and community groups to sign on to the Marine Sanctuaries in NSW Consensus Statement."
The NSW Government has initiated a process of creating marine sanctuaries in the Manning Shelf Bioregion (from Stockton to Nambucca Heads) within multiple-use Marine Parks and aquatic reserves. There are five marine bioregions in NSW. Contacts: |