Some of the proposed no-fishing zones in the Government’s South Coast Marine Park plans are completely illogical and unjustifiable.
That’s why although the public comment period on the proposed South Coast Marine Parks may have closed, our work on this issue on behalf of 700,000 fishers has not stopped.
The table below highlights the crucial fishing locations threatened by the illogical proposed no-fishing zones outlined in our submission. These are the areas that we believe must remain open to fishing.
Areas where our fishing access must be protected | What we called for in our submission |
---|---|
Point Hood and Doubtful Islands | Remove the proposed Point Hood sanctuary zone, and reduce the proposed Doubtful Islands (east) sanctuary zone to provide greater boat fishing access around the Doubtful Islands |
Gordon Inlet (Trigelow Beach) | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone in front of Gordon Inlet |
Fitzgerald Beach | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone at Fitzgerald Beach, improve access throughout Fitzgerald NP |
12 & 13 Mile (Hopetoun) | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone along 12 and 13 Mile |
Masons Bay | Implement a 200m setback and reduce the proposed sanctuary zone at Masons Bay to provide greater nearshore fishing access |
West Island and Black Rock | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone offshore from Masons Bay to provide greater fishing access around West Island and Black Rock |
Lake Shaster Beach | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone along Lake Shaster beach |
Stokes Inlet | Remove gillnets as a permitted activity in Stokes Inlet |
Stokes Offshore (west of Fanny Cove) | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone offshore from Stokes Inlet to provide greater boat fishing access west of Fanny Cove |
Warrenup and Barkers Inlet | Implement a 200m setback at Warrenup and Barkers Inlet within the proposed sanctuary zone here |
Figure of Eight Island | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone here to provide fishing access to the northern side of Figure of Eight and nearby islets/rocks |
Woody Island, Thomas, Gunton and Canard Islands | Reduce or remove the sanctuary zone here to allow fishing around Woody Island, Thomas Island, and Gunton Island. |
Termination Island | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone here to provide greater fishing access north of Termination Island. |
Cape Le Grand | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone at Cape Le Grand to allow fishing around Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove, and inshore areas such as Ram Island, Hope Island and New Island Bay. |
Dunns Rock | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone at Dunns Rock |
Duke of Orleans Area | Implement a 200m setback and reduce this zone to allow greater fishing access around Hammer Head, offshore from Wharton Bay and Victoria Harbour (including Station Island and Cornwall Island). Reduce or relocate the proposed sanctuary zone near the Orleans Bay boat ramp |
Kennedys | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone here |
Twin Peaks Area | Reduce the proposed sanctuary zone offshore from Kennedys to allow greater fishing access to the east of Twin Peaks Islands |
Poison Creek | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone on the eastern end of Poison Creek beach |
Israelite Back Beach | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone on Israelite Bay back beach |
Wattle Camp | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone at Wattle Camp on Bilbunya Beach |
Bilbunya Dunes (Point Culver) | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone in front of the Bilbunya Dunes near Point Culver |
Twilight Cove | Implement a 200m setback along the beach for the proposed sanctuary zone at Twilight Cove |
Red Rocks Back Beach | Implement a 200m setback to the proposed sanctuary zone at Red Rocks back beach |
Eucla | Relocate this zone to the east between Eucla and Mundrabilla with a 200m setback |
We believe these changes will not impact the conservation objectives that the Government is looking to achieve, and they represent a better, more balanced outcome across the 1000 km of coastline contained within these marine parks.
CLICK HERE TO SEE RECFISHWEST’S OFFICIAL SOUTH COAST MARINE PARKS SUBMISSION TO DBCA