Commercial & recreational fishers welcome cuts to sanctuary zones in South Coast Marine Park

Commercial and recreational fishers have welcomed cuts to sanctuary zones in the final plan for the marine park set to span more than 1.3 million hectares of water on WA’s south coast. Proposed plans for the South Coast Marine Park were met with outrage from fishing groups when draft maps released in February showed 25 per cent of the park would be locked away in sanctuary zones. These “look but don’t take” areas have been scaled back to 20 per cent in the final plan released on Tuesday, with sanctuaries removed entirely at Point Hood near Bremer Bay and Kepa Kurl near Esperance. While the final plan does not meet the WA Fishing Industry Council’s suggested 10.7 per cent limit to safeguard the industry, WAFIC chief executive Melissa Haslam welcomed the removal of “critical fishing areas” from the sanctuary zones. “In some respects, that is a huge relief for those fishers, but that’s not everyone,” she said. “There will still be other fishers that are impacted, and there will definitely be fishers that have to exit the industry. “At the end of the day, there are thousands of square kilometres where no food production will ever occur again.” No-fish zones have been trimmed down in the newly released maps at areas within Cape Pasley, Eastern Group Islands, Salisbury-Cooper Islands, Cape Le Grand and Eucla. It is hoped the changes will support the viability of purse seine, abalone, crustacean, octopus, gillnet and longline fisheries on the south coast. Ms Haslam said while the fishing industry was “never going to celebrate” the marine park, it was clear to her local fishing voices had been taken into account. “I will give some credit to the Government for listening to us at the 11th hour and taking out some of those critical areas so that some of those industries can remain,” she said. “For us, this is just a step in a long process, because now you know our attention has to turn to looking out for (fishers) and fighting for them to have decent, appropriate compensation.” Ms Haslam said fisheries along WA’s south coast were already recognised as sustainable, with the annual WA State of the Fisheries Report giving the region a 96 per cent sustainability rating. “Lock-out marine sanctuaries are not a perfect answer to environmental management and there are many examples of how they don’t achieve their intended goals, including here in WA,” she said. “We will now work with government to identify the full economic impacts the marine sanctuary zones will have on local fishers.” Recreational fishing peak body Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said he was pleased with the large-scale changes in the new plans. “Fishing is central to the south coast way of life. and this more balanced outcome ensures south coast fishers and future generations can continue to enjoy fishing in cherished spots like Trigelow, Warrenup, Poison Creek, Thistle Cove and Kennedys,” Dr Rowland said. “Today’s result underscores the immense value of fishing to our coastal communities, and Recfishwest will continue leading efforts to protect fishing and the huge benefits it provides to West Aussies.” The four-month-long consultation period for the draft marine park maps attracted about 22,000 submissions, including a detailed list of recommendations from Recfishwest. Esperance fishers were represented at three anti-marine park rallies during the consultation period — the largest of which saw 1000 people fill the lawns outside the town’s council buildings. Dr Rowland confirmed 23 of Recfishwest’s 28 key recommendations, which urged a rethink of several sanctuary zones, were adopted in the final plans. Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the State Government was supportive of commercial and recreational fishing in Esperance and the surrounding areas. “I don’t believe this is going to result in dramatic change in the fishing industry,” he said. “We’ve gone to a great length to accommodate the concerns of recreational and commercial fishers.” Mr Whitby said the park was a “great outcome” for the fishing industry. “I think we’re going to see opportunities for commercial fishers and recreational fishers going on, and I think there will come a time when everyone will be regarding this as a premium product that enhances their opportunities,” he said. “We know it’s part of the culture of being on the south coast. We want that protected.”