3 February 2004 MEDIA RELEASE
Marine Protected Areas Will Impact on Tasmania’s Commercial Fisheries
The Chief Executive of the Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council, Bob Lister, said today
"We are disappointed that the Government’s proposed introduction of MPAs means the loss of valuable and productive fishing grounds at both Port Davey and around the Kent Group of Islands.
TFIC has very strongly negotiated with the Government over some eight years or so on both these proposals and the decision announced today means that the Government has been listening to at least some of our concerns.
We recognise the Government's desire to provide an acceptable balance between conservation and resource use along with the benefits of biodiversity and we have always participated in this process on a cooperative basis.
Unfortunately however, the fishing industry is to be penalised for benefits to the community and an immediate loss from the restricted areas of some 140 tonnes of seafood worth about $1.9m per annum will result. Potentially this loss could be as high as 180 tonnes of product worth around $3.1m per annum.
The introduction of restrictive sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones are of debatable value to the protection of commercial fish species when we have world class sustainable fisheries management in place with total allowable annual catches and quota controls etc."
Bob Lister can be contacted on 0408 146 960.
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