Coalition's marine park policy recognises need to improve consultation and use of science
27 July 2010
The Coalition’s Marine Park policy released today outlines a proposed consultation process which potentially addresses some of the deficiencies in the current approach and emphasises the need for decisions to be made on the basis of ‘peer-reviewed scientific evidence of threats to biodiversity’.
Since it originated in the Australian Oceans Policy in 1999, the Western Australian commercial fishing industry has raised significant concerns about the potential impact of the Commonwealth bioregional marine planning process.
In particular, we have emphasised that this Commonwealth policy has the potential to put fishing families out of business and to impact negatively on the Western Australian coastal communities which depend on fishing as well as on the ability of consumers to buy local and sustainably caught seafood.
Western Australian industry has registered these concerns with the Commonwealth over many years and has particularly stressed the need for marine parks to be based on sound science.
We have also sought a comprehensive consultation framework with industry and for timelines to be adjusted to ensure that this occurs.
Industry welcomes the Coalition’s recognition of the need to improve drastically the consultation process to ensure that all stakeholders are given adequate time to have input and that all decisions about marine parks are made on the basis of sound science.
We also welcome the Coalition’s initiative to have the Fisheries’ Minister involved in all decision making about marine planning.
Industry has been concerned for many years about the lack of a just, generous and costed Displacement Policy for the Commonwealth’s marine planning process.
While the Coalition’s recognition of the need for a ‘fair and balanced’ Displacement Effort Policy is acknowledged, the absence of a substantial funding allocation for this policy causes significant uncertainty among commercial fishing and the communities which depend on this industry.
It is vital that a just, generous and costed Displacement Policy underpins Commonwealth marine policy and is available for commercial fishing and those businesses and communities which support this industry.
For further information:
Kim Colero, Chairman, WAFIC, 0419 271 950
Anna Cronin, CEO, WAFIC, 0400 788 878
