If you or your family fish in the SE corner of Queensland, the upcoming elections carry a large prize for you. Vote liberal to finally have a chance at improving your future fishing prospects. Finally as recreational anglers we have a chance to make a political difference that will affect us greatly in future years and for future generations.
Pictures like little Lachlan fishing in his home waters in SE Qld may be a thing of the past if politicians like those holding ALP seats continue to hold decision making powers.
As recreational anglers across Australia – our greatest threat lies within the closing of waterways to fishing activities. Considerable amounts of water have been closed over the past years to form “green zones”. While I am a big advocate of protecting our resources, I have not been enamoured by the reasoning provided for much of the closures. Poor research works, in some instances by groups in other countries have been used by politicians as the vehicle to drive many closures. Party preferences such as the ALP and Green parties have not helped the issue. I watched an episode of Escape with ET the other day where a researcher was speaking about the green zones in northern Qld. He mentioned what a great job they have done because there are increased numbers of fish now within the green zones. At the end of the segment (almost as an after-thought) he quickly also mentioned that there are also increased numbers of fish in the open zones. He didn’t elaborate and mention that the increased populations of fish have developed in “open to fishing” areas that now have increased pressure due to more anglers (driven from green zones) fishing those areas. The research for closing waters to rec fishing is poor, and yet the ALP continue to push closures upon the average Australian and lie to them about the reasons. There seems to be much less research done into the effects of professional fishing and urban development on our waterways and fish stocks. You and I and our families that want to fish in our local waterways are the easy targets and hence the decisions by governing bodies to keep the loudest voice (Green party) quiet. The result is that in future times it may be difficult to take your kids for a fish in their’ backyard.
There has been quite a lot of press lately regards the upcoming SE Queensland elections and the push by the LNP (Liberal) to abolish Green Zones until better research is available. A number of documents have passed my desk lately that contains some interesting information. I have attached them here for some thought provoking reading. Apologies for the long blog but if you fish in Queensland (or anywhere for that matter) you may be interested in reading this prior to the upcoming elections.
The Australian recently posted a story about the fishing debate for the upcoming election and an associated press release by the LNP party is summarised below:
“28 February 2009LNP pledges full and proper scientific study for Moreton BayAn LNP Government will establish a full, independent and scientific environmental study into the Moreton Bay Marine Park LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg announced today.The scientific study conducted under a LNP Government will be done by qualified scientists - unlike Anna Bligh's Labor Government which used a University student's PHD thesis as the basis for locking away recreational fishing areas."Fishing is one of the most popular recreations for Queenslanders and Anna Bligh has shut them out of Moreton Bay all in the name of saving her own job through preferences," Mr Springborg said."The LNP will balance the environment of Moreton Bay with the rights of recreational fisherman.”"An LNP Government led by myself will base our decisions on a proper scientific evaluation - not a University student's essay."The comprehensive study will be conducted over one year and during this time existing green zones will remain - however, recreational fishers will be allowed to fish in green zones with a one line per person policy.
An LNP Government will allocate $3 million for the study which will be released to the public and not hidden away.Changes will also be made to the Commercial Fishing licence scheme in an effort to strengthen the 'restraint clause'. Compensation paid out to Commercial fishers will be increased to $20 million - up from $15 million - which will provide a greater incentive for Commercial fishers to give up their licence.
Shadow Minister for Sustainable Environment and Climate Change, David Gibson said that Anna Bligh and her Labor Government had been misleading and playing tricky politics for too long with Moreton Bay fishers."Just as recently as Wednesday this week, after months of calling for all scientific data that was used as a reason to shut fisherman out of Moreton Bay by myself and Ray Hopper, staff from Minister McNamara's office dropped off a box full of paper and a letter saying here you go," Mr Gibson said."What was dropped off by Minister McNamara has been examined by Independent Marine Scientist Dr Ben Diggles and dismissed it as not providing and credible scientific evidence for the establishment of exclusion zones for recreational fishers."It only added fuel to the fire over speculation that Anna Bligh and the Labor Government has been using half-truths and orchestrated bias with selective use of available data."Included in the box was a Nielson Research paper that highlighted the fact that recreational activities such as fishing and boating are of least concern to residents."The LNP is being up-front and honest about our policies for Moreton Bay fishing and I challenge Anna Bligh to do the same.
"Media Contact: Scott Whitby 0419 178 698
Key Policy Points
The LNP will:1. Increase compensation to be paid to commercial fishers from $15M to $20M.
2. Keep all proposed zones in place while an LNP Governmentconducts a full independent scientific analysis of the basis of zonings.
3. Provide $3m for the study, to be completed within 12 months.
4. In the interim, limited fishing by recreational fishers would be authorised within zones on the following basis: a. Allow recreational fishing only with one line in ALL green zones. b. No change to the proposed two lines in ALL yellow zones.
5. These interim arrangements would remain in place until the studywas complete and permanent arrangements based on the findings of the study implemented.”
A comparison of the two party policies is summarised below:
LNP
GREEN ZONES
NO COMMERCIAL FISHINGONE LINE ONLY FOR RECREATIONAL FISHING UNTIL FULL INDEPENDENT REVIEW IS COMPLETED
YELLOW ZONES
NO COMMERCIAL FISHING2 LINES PER RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN
ALP
GREEN ZONES
NO RECREATIONAL FISHING
NO COMMERCIAL FISHING
YELLOW ZONES
NO COMMERCIAL FISHING
2 LINES PER RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN
And finally – a fairly damning letter to the editor of the Wynnum Herald from a Brisbane business person threatened by a local ALP Campaign Manager:
To: Editor of the Wynnum Herald.
Hello my name is Jim Theodorou,
For the last twenty – five years I have owned the BP Service Station at Manly. My service station is located on the corner of Gordon Parade and Ernest Street Manly.
I also own and operate a charter fishing business (Brisbane Big Cat Charters) in the Redlands, south of Brisbane.
Today, Wednesday March 4, at 2:02pm I received a phone call from Linda Harnett. Linda is the Campaign Manager for Paul Lucas. She asked me why I was displaying four LNP signs on my property and why I was not supporting ALP as well. She went on to tell me that over 50% of the electorate were ALP supporters and it would be bad for business if I did not at least support both.
I believed that I had just received a thinly veiled threat to my business viability from Linda and went on the offensive.
I explained to Linda that I was a member of the Marine Queensland Charter Vessel Division. I told her I was extremely disappointed with the way her government was treating the Charter Operators by leaving them out of the Moreton Bay Marine Park SAP and ignoring the charter sector input throughout the MBMP sham “consultation” process conducted by the EPA.
Not only would my service station lose customers but I would also lose a tenant (Water Tower Bait and Tackle) through the damage done to the local fishing industry as well as lose my new charter fishing business.
I explained to Linda my extreme disappointment Paul Lucas had avoided meeting with the MQCVD, even cancelling set appointments and not rebooking other opportunities, but offering up Peter Shooter, an unelected adviser to the EPA Minister.
I told Linda that I believed her government had become arrogant and it was only concerned in winning the election. I told her that I was sick and tired of being ignored and that I was taking a stand against the ALP. I also told her they might get a shock at the next election.
There was silence on the phone and I asked if anyone was there. Linda said she was listening. She then informed me that if this was the way I was thinking then maybe she would tell all her ALP supporters not use my service station.
I was shocked, imagine how desperate the ALP must be if they need to scare one person just to get their way.
I am writing this letter to all my customers whom I have looked after for many years.
I am asking for your help and support.
The last time I looked Queensland was still a Democracy.
Nobody should be bullied by the ALP or by any other group because of their personal political views.
Kindest regardsJim Theodorou
The above pages contain enough information for the average angler to establish who will look out for them in the future.
Vote LNP or say no more when we are prevented fishing in our local waterways.
Happy Fishing and VOTING!
Nige
caught fish every 15 minutes or so. Weaving in and out of the drowned timber we placed or Berkley 2.5” T Tail soft plastics tight in on the structure. We had the most success targeting water depths of 2-8 foot deep, with the larger trees producing the majority of fish. With the stirred up weather from the previous day the fish seemed to be in close hunting baitfish and anything else they could locate hiding amongst the timber. The fish seemed to respond well to a finesse retrieve which consisted of a few small twitches thrown in.
