Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park
February 28th, 2006 by Fishing admin
Fishing co-op opts out of marine park protest
At least one of the region’s fishermen’s co-ops will not be part of a protest against the new Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park
A protest rally is planned for outside Parliament House in Sydney today.
The general manager of the Wallis Lake Co-op, David Bell, says none of his members will be there because they have decided it is not in their best interests to go head-to-head with government over the marine park plan.
“We are concerned about what areas may be taken away, but the members of Wallis Lake Co-operative took a deliberate decision to work with the marine parks, to work with the minister in the hope they listen to us and perhaps get enough area to enable fishermen to continue with their livelihoods,” he said.
The Member for Myall Lakes, John Turner, says the bulk of the protesters at today’s rally will be people involved in recreational activities.
He says recreational fishers and dolphin watchers will be hardest hit by plans for a marine park.
“The biggest effect it’s going to have is on recreational fishing. Commercial fishing is allowed in parts and that’s an issue for the fishermen,” he said.
“The overwhelming protests are coming from recreational activities - fishermen, people involved in dolphin watching and the like. I expect there will be a considerable amount of those people at this rally.”