So, what WILL be affected by REMOVING the RED CROSS HATCHED “Designated Great Sandy Area “ ?...

The designated Great Sandy Area extends over the "conservation park zone" and allows for the continuation of some fishing practices within this area that would normally be prohibited or limited within this zoning category. Specifically, commercial net fishing is allowed to continue when a conservation park zone usually prohibits commercial netting other than bait netting!

To clarify what WILL BE affected by "Correcting" our Great Sandy Marine Park & debunk some of the propaganda from the commercial sector suggesting the non-fishing general public will not have access to fresh local fish.

NOTE: "Locally Caught" - broadly suggests it has to have been caught within Australian water - It Does NOT necessarily mean it was actually caught in the region/area you are purchasing it in. Also "Fresh" suggests it should not have been frozen at ANY stage prior to you purchasing it.

REMOVING the "anomaly" that is the Great Sandy Designated Area - which ONLY makes up approx. 11% of the total Great Sandy Marine Park area (Red Cross Hatching on our Yellow Zones) -

WILL NOT AFFECT: -

* Trawler fishing - Which mostly ALL occurs outside of the Great Sandy Designated Area (with the exception a couple of beam trawl operators)

* Prawns – Otter Trawling ALL occurs outside of the Great Sandy Designated Area (with the exception a couple of beam trawl operators & some stripe nets in the Mary River)

* Scallops & bugs - Which ALL occurs outside of the Great Sandy Designated Area

* Spanner crabs – which are harvested outside of the Great Sandy Area

* Fish and prawns farmed commercially in Queensland

* Commercial Line Fishing IE: Mackerel, trout etc.

* The FCFA would support commercial line fishing in the Great Sandy Area by “long term local operators” on a Permit & quota basis.

* The FCFA supports ‘Continued commercial crabbing in the Great Sandy Area by “long term local operators” on a Permit & quota basis.

IT WILL AFFECT & REMOVE Commercial Gill Netting!

The commercial sector will boast the current Great Sandy Designated Area also allows Recreational fishers to use three lines or rods per person with a combined total of six hooks when fishing in this area.

Recreational fishers in TRUE conservation park (Yellow) zones in the Moreton Bay Marine Park are able to use up to two hand-held rods or handlines per fisher, with no more than two hooks in total for each fisher. There are also six rivers and creeks in the State Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park Zoning Plan allow the use of two lines and hooks.

The Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance will be insisting that recreational anglers be allowed up to two hand-held rods or handlines per fisher, with no more than two hooks in total for each fisher once the Great Sandy Marine Park is "corrected" and the Great Sandy

Designated Area is REMOVED in line with the current full-term review due to be completed now by the end of 2021!