The press release states that more than 200 people gathered in Cronulla Plaza to protest the closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre. Sutherland Shire mayor Carol Provan and the state Opposition’s spokesman on primary industries, Steve Whan, were among speakers at the rally, organised by staff. People from recreational and commercial fishing industry also addressed the rally
The centre’s deputy director, Charles Gray, said the crowd was estimated at 200 to 300. He told that the next rally will be at the Parliament House. He added that the decision to close the centre is a silly one and not a well thought enough. Professor Gray said there could be room for a compromise, which would see the research unit and the management of commercial and recreational fishing stay at Cronulla even if other elements relocated.
According to Whan it is useless to think to move Cronulla from its specific location. He added that one can’t just move the research of bull sharks in the Sydney region to the far north or south coast. Scientists have told the state government that closing the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre would lead to a ‘‘massive’’ loss of expertise and cost many millions of dollars.
