The Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance welcomes the long-awaited release of the DRAFT re-zoning plan for the Great Sandy Marine Park.
You can view the full details here - https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/marine-parks/zoning/gsmp
The proposed changes are described in a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement, now available for consultation until midnight 23 October 2022.
You can review the key proposed changes here - https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/298231/gsmp-zoning-plan-review-summary.pdf
NOTE - ALL of the Red Cross-Hatched - Designated Great Sandy Area has been removed without exception.
While this DRAFT is a significant win for recreational anglers, fish stocks, the marine environment and locally endangered species. Some areas could be reviewed in order to maintain access to key recreational fishing areas while maintaining adequate environment and endangered species protection.
These are some changes our members and the local community have suggested so far: -
* Question 16 - We STRONGLY DISAGREE to the retention of tunnel netting in the Yellow Conservation Zone areas! There should be NO commercial netting in Yellow Conservation Park Zones.
* MNP11 - Goes out further now and takes in some key recreational fishing areas/marks. We suggest the current MNP 10 is left at its Northern limit and is widened to the West to maintain the proposed Green Protection Area percentage or look at another area where deep seagrass could be protected.
* Remove the proposed MNP12 – green zone over the popular 4 Mile Reek mark. Instead make this area Yellow in line with CPZ12. This is the only close, shallow offshore reef system in the Bundaberg region that is accessible by small boats and is a popular recreational fishing area.
* MNP16 - Could be reduced to allow fishing on the top Eastern and Western sides of Big Woody ( out from the shoreline) as it is a key recreational fishing area and is essentially all hard rock. We propose a 300-metre Yellow Conservation Zone be applied from the shoreline around the top of Big Woody island.
* HPZ09 - Shoreline section of HPZ05 and HPZ02, Habitat Protection Zones - It is proposed that the habitat protection zones that are being shown along the shoreline of K'gari from North Ngkala Rocks to Moon Point be Changed to Yellow Conservation Zones - in line with the CPZ13, CPZ17 and CPZ21 - essentially continuing the Yellow Conservation Zone CPZ16 ALL the way around K'Gari to Moon Point.
* HPZ11 - Habitat Protection Zone in the Burrum River and Sherwell Rivers be changed to a Yellow Conservation Zone. Otherwise, it will allow commercial netting in that area! We believe it was changed to enable shoreline structures to be more easily approved, erected and maintained, like jetties etc. The Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan - Summary of Key Proposed Changes suggests that HPZ 11 covering the Upper reaches of Burrum River and Cherwell River will EXCLUDE commercial fishing with large mesh gill nets and ring nets - BUT WE NEED this to be FORMALISED and written in stone. This rule will also NEED to be applied to the "light blue" zones at Buxton and Walkers Point.
* THIS MUST ALSO BE APPLIED TO MPZ-13 around the iconic Urangan Pier as well.
* MNP 23 - Move the new proposed Green zone further South away from Tinnanbar township - is there any scope to move it from the North side of Kauri Creek to the South side of Kauri Creek mouth while still protecting the key habitat - seagrass?
* MNP 25 - Amend the outside flats/mangrove areas around the entrance to Myers Creek to a Yellow Zone. This is an important recreational fishing area.
* MNP 26 - Wolf Rock green zone be amended to allow recreational fishing access to The Pinnacles.
PLEASE make your submission to the On-Line Survey NOW here - https://intheloop.des.qld.gov.au/great-sandy-marine-park-zoning-plan
Submissions CLOSE at midnight THIS SUNDAY the 23rd of October 2022