Marine parks team and fishing industry comes together under new contract position jointly funded by DEH and industry peak body Wildcatch Fisheries SA. It is told that the new industry liaison officer role will help commercial fishers develop coordinated submissions on marine park outer boundaries, which the Government expects to release for public comment in the near future. It would be the first time when the commercial fishers are coming together to help marine parks.
It is informed that the government is ready to establish a network of 19 multiple-use marine parks in State waters by 2010. While this initiative is focused on conservation outcomes, commercial and recreational fishing will continue within the boundaries of marine parks. Roger Edwards, a former executive officer of the SA Rock Lobster Advisory Council, has won the contract role for the remainder of 2008–2009.
DEH’s Marine Parks manager Chris Thomas opined that the new role would help DEH design marine parks that meet conservation objectives while minimising impacts on commercial fishers. He further said that the government has developed a fair formula for compensating those few commercial fishers who may be displaced when marine parks zoning takes effect in late 2011.
