With over 800,000 Queenslanders going fishing every year, recreational fishing is Queensland’s largest leisure sporting activities. It generates millions of dollars and thousands of jobs for local and regional areas. Hervey Bay & the Fraser Coast is the second most important recreational fishing area in Qld after Morton Bay and is within a 4-hour drive of the South East Queensland region (2 to 3 hours by road and 45 mins by air from Brisbane and its international airport). Regional airports at local cities make the area readily available to international fishers. (Refer QLD Govt SWRFS 2010). The Mary River contains the southernmost strain of “wild” barramundi in the country. The Fraser Coast has the genuine potential of being a recreational fishing mecca if managed in favour of recreational fishing. Visitor Expenditure generated through Recreational Fishing in the Fraser Coast has been valued in excess of $39 million per annum. It is important to note that this figure is based on visitors only, and it does not take into account the value generated by recreational fishing by keen fisherman who reside within the Fraser Coast - this figure would be significant. The figure of $39 million is compiled by the International Visitor Survey (IVS) and the National Visitor Survey (NVS) which is collated by Tourism Research Australia. This data is then distributed to the State Tourism Organisations and then distributed to the regional tourism organisations such as Fraser Coast Tourism & Events. Through the Fraser Coast Destination Tourism Plan, it is estimated that if the Fraser Coast is to increase its share of the Queensland Recreational Fishing Market by 8% by the year 2020, the value of visitor expenditure generated purely through recreational fishing would equate to approximately $107 million per annum by the year 2020. Again this does not include local expenditure – purely visiting Anglers. PLEASE ASK YOUR MEMBERS & CANDIDATES WHERE THEY STAND ON THE FOLLOWING KEY ISSUES EFFECTING RECREATIONAL FISHING ACROSS OUR FRASER COAST & THE GREAT SANDY MARINE PARK - AND WHAT WILL THEY DO IF ELECTED ... 1. Great Sandy Strait Marine Park REVIEW The Great Sandy Strait Marine Park is the ONLY marine park in Australia that allows commercial NETTING in what “should be” True Yellow Conservation Zones. This is inconsistent with the environmental objectives of this zone and should not be allowed. Queensland recreational fishers will support a party that removes commercial NETTING from the current anomaly that is the “Great Sandy Designated Area” and adjacent waters under the current full term - 10 year review. This will restore fish stocks and help protect the Queensland urban coast’s largest dugong population. * We seek a commitment from your party to remove commercial NETTING with in the anomaly that is the “Designated Great Sandy Area” returning it to a TRUE Yellow Conservation Zone under the current 10 year full-term review. 2. Net free Zones The declaration of the three net free zones in Queensland is starting to reap positive benefits for the State. There has been an increase in recreational fishing activity for locals and tourists alike as they can actually catch a fish when they go fishing in these areas. These benefits will grow in the future, generating more jobs and economic growth in these areas, to benefit of all Queenslanders. All commercial fishers were fairly compensated for loss of effort from these net free zones. There have been rumors that some political parties may want to un pick these net free zones, jeopardising the benefits that they have created for local communities, now and in the future. This is not negotiable from a Queensland recreational fisher perspective and any attempt by a political party to undo these net free zones would not have our support. * We seek a written commitment from your party stating your position on the current NFZs in Qld, and whether your party would undo the existing net free zones in any way. Queensland recreational fishers would like to see net free fishing zones extended to other areas across our Fraser Coast including the Great Sandy Marine Park, Mary River & tributaries. We will favorably support those parties that are willing to extend net free zones in our Great Sandy Marine Park, Mary River & tributaries, supported by the appropriate stakeholder consultation processes to do so. * We seek a written commitment to your party’s position on increasing net free zones to include our Great Sandy Marine Park, Mary River & tributaries. 3. Queensland Sustainable fisheries Strategy Queensland recreational fishers welcomed the recent release of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy. We understand this strategy is the Government’s long overdue response to the MRAG report. Having a strategic blue print for the future of fisheries in Queensland is important. We seek all political parties to support this strategy. We would not like to see its implementation stalled or shelved because of a change in political leadership in Government. * We seek the commitment of your party to maintain and appropriately resource the implementation of the Queensland Sustainable Fishing strategy. 4. Recreational fishing related infrastructure The development of infrastructure to support recreational fishing is important to the growing future of recreational fishing across the Fraser Coast. Be it boat ramps, cleaning tables or other infrastructure that allows access for recreational fishers to our unique waterways, development of infrastructure is critical. In addition, existing infrastructure is a community asset that requires maintenance. Queensland’s recreational fishers will support political parties that can commit to a funded plan to improve and maintain recreational fishing assets across the Fraser Coast. * We seek a written commitment relating to your party’s position on recreational fishing infrastructure development and maintenance across the Fraser Coast. MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT THIS ELECTION !