| TFIC Media Release re:
Liberal Party Policy Statement
10 December 2001
The Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council warmly applauds many of the initiatives included in the "Traditional Recreation - we hear you..." policy paper released this afternoon by the Tasmanian Liberal Party.
The Chief Executive of TFIC Bob Lister said 'The Liberal Party statement refusing to implement any new marine protected areas in Tasmanian coastal waters is a refreshing response to a contentious issue which potentially could adversely impact on the lives and viability of many commercial fishermen and coastal communities.
The future of our commercial fishing fleet depends of course on a sustainable resource and marine environment and for this reason we already have in place world class biological and environmentally sustainable fishery management arrangements for all of our major commercial fisheries.
We now have for instance over 300 marine areas where fishing activities are either restricted or prohibited and many of these areas have been created with the support of the commercial fishing industry.
To restrict access to marine waters even further by the creation of political marine parks is unnecessary and in our view is certainly not in the best interests of Tasmania as a whole. This new Liberal policy position is therefore viewed as a positive step forward and recognition of the very significant benefits our $258m. industry brings to the Tasmanian economy and regional communities generally.
It is also pleasing to note the Liberal Party recognition that Marine and Safety Tasmania is currently under funded and that a Liberal government would provide an additional $500,000 to improve basic maintenance and upgrading needs associated with wharves, jetties and other marine facilities in line with the maintenance schedules prepared by MAST.
Historically fishing facilities around our State have suffered from years of neglect and have not received adequate attention or funding as preference has been given to funding road projects to the detriment of wharves and jetties. The general maintenance level of our marine facilities is poor and despite MAST's best endeavours urgent attention with new and upgraded berthing facilities is still needed.
Improved access to beaches, a reduction in regulations, an upgraded search and rescue capability and general support for commercial fishing are all initiatives that should be supported" Bob Lister said.
Bob Lister can be contacted on 0408 146 960.
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