Coral Sea Closure Meeting

[Len Olyott]

Hi All, just bringing to your notice a meeting that will be held in Cairns on the 29 April.

Release from Cairns Professional Game Fishing Assn:

Don't let the American PEW environmental groups’ attempt to have our Australian Coral Sea “closed to fishing” happen!

This US lobby group wants ALL FISHING - Recreational, Commercial, Game & Charter totally banned from Australia's Coral Sea.

Incredibly, this proposal is being taken seriously by our Federal Government.

Imagine the existing Green Zones of the Great Barrier Reef being extended to cover over 1,000,000 square kms of the Australian Coral Sea!!

DO YOU THINK THEY WILL STOP THERE???
WHERE WILL FISHING BE BANNED NEXT???

This WILL happen unless you STAND-UP and STOP it!

Join the protest at :

The Crosswell Hall, Grafton Street
Wednesday Night 29th April from 7PM.

Authorised by Ross Finlayson (CPGFA) & Robert Erskine

Recfish Australia is involved in fighting this campaign and there is a considerable alliance being formed. I wont give too much away but if you can attend the meeting, please go and show your support.
Len

[Flying Ant]

Thanks Len,
I have also forwarded this to Anthony Davies who will be attending the meeting.
Unfortunately, I won;t be able to get to it as I am in Townsville.
Lets hope that Townsville also organises an event like this.

[Len Olyott]

A further update:

Things have been moving along with the meeting today so just to keep everyone up to date:

CAFNEC (Cairns and Far North Environmental Committee) have been on to the Cairns Post complaining that we would not allow them to speak at the meeting – I have responded to Roger Dixon at the Post that (A) We had the speakers planned long ago and (B) That CAFNEC have known about this since last year and with the exception of their web site have made no attempt to inform the public – now all of a sudden they want to give the issue some prominence. (Remember that CAFNEC are part of the problem – not part of the solution).
ABC radio has done an interview with me this morning for the news. The direction that we have taken is that if this is not the issue that we believe it could potentially be why does the Minister not come out and make a statement to the effect that it will not happen. (so far deadly silence)
The CEO of the GBRMPA (Russell Reichelt) has contacted me today in response to my invitation to him to attend the meeting. He will ensure that people from the GBRMPA are at the meeting but can not attend as he has to be at an AMSA meeting on the same day. He keeps reminding me that they have no say in this and would rather not be involved.
Russell also says that the Minister (Peter Garrett) will have some senior advisers present at the meeting.
Warren Entsch (The former member for Leichardt) rang - he gave us a run on one of the radio stations today and will do so again next Tuesday when he does his spot next week. He will get to our meeting but will be late as he has a prior engagement.


Regards
Wayne Bayne
Mitchell's Marine
303 - 305 Draper Street
Cairns, Queensland 4870
Australia.
Ph# (07) 40 513512
Fax # (07) 40311008

[Flying Ant]

This is great to see some movement. Lets hope that other regions and organisations take it up as well.

[jamie]

this has been a hot topic at work, so ant would you mind emailing me a copy of the document you wrote about in this months f&b.
im going to try my best to go to the meeting, i believe if this comes in someone will get shot.

[Flying Ant]

jamie Wrote:this has been a hot topic at work, so ant would you mind emailing me a copy of the document you wrote about in this months f&b.
im going to try my best to go to the meeting, i believe if this comes in someone will get shot.

jamie,
send me your email address and I will get it to you.

What is really scarry about all of this is the thought that, if this does go through in any way at all, that in the future there is a real threat that the heritage park and GBRMPA zoning will combine. Say goodbye to the core boating industry, fishing and other flow on effects such as four wheel drives, camping, tourism, etc.......

[bushbeachboy]

It would also help if we got our southern fishing friends involved in this. If it happens in Queensland, they are next, as they have found out recently with their marine park zoning.

[bushbeachboy]

I just posted a link to this thread in a similar thread on Ausfish.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthr...p?t=147519

[bushbeachboy]

And another link to the http://www.polyboatowners.com website:

http://www.polyboatowners.com/pboforum/v...orum_id=45

[kieranc]

Guys, this isn't serious is it? How could they actually consider this at all? Give me proven facts that will lead to the extinction of all fish and I may oblige, but this is absolutely crazy. It's about time we shut down this nonsense, I'm over it.