The government has approved a six-month extension of the deadline for the proposed East Marine Bioregion Plan off the Queensland coast. Industry spokesman Michael Gardner informed that the previous deadline had been u nrealistic and the Australian Government had agreed to a six-month extension.
This means that a revised plan will be released in mid 2010 rather than early in the year as planned. According to Gardner there is now a better chance of proper consultation and as a result the Government being able to achieve its stated aim of minimising harm to Queensland industries.
It is said that the bioregions off Queensland both cover vast areas and the previous time frame did not recognise the massive effort required of an industry association to adequately represent its members and the wider industry participants. Gardner said that the QSIA particularly wanted to see a clear Government policy and framework for displaced fishing effort that minimises the need for effort to be displaced within mairne parks.
