No to Overseas Fishing Fleets and Restore Our Marine Sanctuaries

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

No to Overseas Fishing Fleets and Restore Our Marine Sanctuaries

The Coalition Government is delivering a more balanced and scientific evidence-based approach to ocean protection, enabling tourism and well-managed fishing activity supporting local communities, local jobs and regional economies.

 

Key elements of the Coalition Government’s plans include:

â€Ē             An increase of 200,000 square kilometres in the area with sea floor protection.

 

â€Ē             16 per cent more of the total area of parks will be open to recreational fishing which includes access to 97 per cent of Commonwealth waters within 100 kilometres of the coast.

 

â€Ē             A four per cent decrease in the total area of marine parks open to mining.

 

â€Ē             The protection of 509 conservation features (reefs and canyons), 344 in the highest levels of protection, compared to 331 in Labor’s plans.

 

By being more targeted with restrictions and integrating marine park management with world-class fisheries management, we have not only increased conservation protection, but also ensured regional economies are supported.

 

The Government has also allocated $56 million to implement these plans, including funding for community engagement and science and an appropriate adjustment package which government will consult with industry on.

 

Under these plans, Australia will have world-class management of all marine parks in our oceans, starting from 1 July 2018. The plans can be found via www.parksaustralia.gov.au/marine