ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION COUNCIL (ECC)

MARINE, COASTAL AND ESTUARINE INVESTIGATION - DRAFT REPORT

 SUBMISSION BY THE NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA – VICTORIA.

  The National Party agrees with the ECC that as a society we have a responsibility to pass on an environment to future generations that will give them the benefits that it has given us. We also agree that maintaining the health and integrity of our marine ecosystems is fundamental to good management of Victorian coastal and marine water.

However, we do not agree that the declaration of significant "no take" marine areas is the most effective or appropriate means of meeting these objectives.

The National Party believes that there is insufficient research to justify the effectiveness or benefits of establishing a significant number of "no take" areas along the Victorian coast. We also believe the draft recommendations will impact harshly on both recreational and professional users of these areas and in turn the local communities from which they come. The adverse impact on marine users should not be supported while any claimed benefits to the marine environment are unable to be guaranteed.

There may be arguments for limiting some activities in certain Victorian waters, but the National Party believes a blanket "no take" approach to the areas proposed in the draft report is totally inappropriate.

We would support:-

• greater research to establish a better understanding of our marine environment
• a greater management focus on all Victorian waters
• efforts that reduce the impact of land based activities on the marine environment.
• the creation of 2 or 3 small scientific research areas from which base line scientific study can be undertaken
• the facilitation of aquaculture areas at appropriate places within Victorian waters.

We would NOT support:-

• the wholesale introduction of significant "no take" areas within Victorian water
• the nomination of aquaculture areas without consultation with local communities and the aquaculture industry

  Managed Multiple Use

The National Party stands proudly on its record of support for conservation initiatives. Indeed many of our members continue to be at the forefront of programs like Landcare, Catchment and Management Authorities, revegetation programs, coastal boards and salinity groups. The National Party recognises the critical importance of sustainability and has led the charge to ensure our natural resources will remain sufficient to meet the needs of future generations. We believe the key to sustainability is good management whether that be land based or marine resources. Consequently in this submission we strongly urge a managed multiple use approach to marine areas be adopted rather than a no take ethos. The State has insufficient resources to manage further limited use areas of conservation. Users can and should act as resource managers. It is widely accepted today that care for the environment in which we work and play today is necessary for our well being tomorrow. The objectives of the Marine Coastal and Estuarine Investigation can be achieved with the support of the users of Victorian waters. It will fail without their support.

The Marine Environment

The harvesting of marine resources is not incompatible with the preservation and protection of the marine environment. The National Party argues that the impact of other human activity can cause far greater damage to the marine environment. Outfall sewers, water run-off from urban and non-urban areas, oil spills and the introduction of exotic marine species, are such examples. We emphasise the need for appropriate management plans for all Victorian waters and support the recommendations in the draft report in so far as they relate to this concept.

Sustainability of Fish Resources

The National Party supports recommendation 16 that "fisheries management plans for all major fisheries be in place within five years." Our support is conditional that such plans are developed in conjunction with the industry. The abalone industry is an excellent example of sustainability being achieved by use of appropriate management plans. In this instance the use of both input and output controls has proven most effective. It is the belief of the National Party that other fisheries are also making good progress towards the establishment of management plans that will ensure their sustainability.

 Recreational Fishing

The National Party believes the impact of recreational fishing in the areas proposed in this report have absolutely minimal if any impact at all on those marine environments. Along the Gippsland and Western coasts the amount of recreational fishing undertaken in the proposed marine parks and marine sanctuaries is almost insignificant when compared to total marine life in the proposed areas. However these areas are very important to their local communities. The impassioned plea by several Cann River and Tamboon residents in respect to Point Hicks being their "backyard" is worth remembering.

As it is now, recreational fishing can be managed by appropriate input and output controls and the National Party sees no demonstrated need to exclude recreational fishers from the areas proposed in the draft report.

Enforcement

While it is accepted that the issue of enforcement is dependent on Government, the National Party has no confidence in the present or any future Government dedicating

sufficient resources to enable the effective enforcement of the provisions proposed in the draft report. We see this as further reason for the multiple use approach that can be supported by all users.

Scientific Research Areas

Victoria currently has several "no take" areas like Bunurong and Pope’s Eye, yet it seems there has been little if any formal research to study the impact on the marine environment within these areas. The National Party believes there is insufficient evidence available to justify locking-up large marine areas. We would support the necessary research at these areas being undertaken. We would also support the establishment of a further one or two small areas of scientific research at locations determined by Government after consultation with the fishing industry and the local community.

Aquaculture

The National Party has long been supportive of promoting aquaculture and is disappointed that the recommendations of the draft report do not appear to support the growth of this industry to any great degree. We are aware of industry criticism of the areas proposed in the report. We are also aware of local community concerns with the vagueness of the recommendations. We are concerned that the recommendations contained in the report will not remove the impediments that have driven potential investors interstate.

 Socio-economic Impact

The National Party shares the strong concerns held by many of our constituents in regard to the impact the proposed recommendations will have on local communities. We do not accept that the argument that the imprecise nature of such studies makes them worthless. The report does identify an economic loss in regard to commercial fishing effort (although the accuracy of these figures is disputed by the industry) and it is not difficult to extrapolate the effect this loss will have indirectly on local communities. The report does not make this extrapolation nor does it give any estimate of the impact of reduced recreational fishing opportunities. While the National Party does not have the expertise to do this work for the council, it is apparent from many local and industry submissions that the impact will be significant resulting in both direct and indirect job losses. While there are alternative means of achieving the council’s objectives, the National Party will not support proposals that reduce employment opportunities in country Victoria.

CONCLUSION

The council’s term of reference require recommendations on "a preferred approach and priorities for the progressive establishment of a representative system of marine parks." The National Party believes the preferred approach should be one of managed multiple use along all of the coastal investigation area. The terms of reference do not specify the establishment of areas of "no take" and we would only support "no take" in small dedicated scientific research areas. The terms of reference call for the "progressive establishment" of marine national parks. We believe the appropriate way to progress the objectives of this investigation is to commence base line scientific research immediately, work with industry to implement fishery management plans and further develop strategies to combat the influence of other activities on the marine environment.

Prepared and written by

PETER HALL M.L.C.
MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND PROVINCE

For and on behalf of the National Party of Australia -Victoria