Coroner & Legal
Government planning huge marine park expansion as new study lays blame for warming oceans
The ABC has obtained an Environment Department proposal for a network of marine parks that would make up the biggest ocean conservation sanctuary in the world.
Environment Minister Tony Burke’s upcoming announcement of a national network of Commonwealth marine parks has been described by environmentalists as a chance for the government to leave a legacy as significant as the protection of the Great Barrier Reef or Kakadu.
The documents show a huge protected area in the Coral Sea off Queensland, stretching all the way along the state’s coastline and a long way out to sea.
There are protected pockets stretching further south past New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and significant protected areas proposed around Western Australia and up to the Northern Territory.
Work on the network of marine parks has being underway for years, and it is expected a final decision on the protection zone could be just a week or two away.
Mr Burke says if the drafts are implemented, it would be the most significant step for conservation Australia has seen in terms of the number of hectares being placed into conservation.
“The combination of the Coral Sea joining up with the Great Barrier Reef area would provide the biggest marine protected area on the planet,” he said.
Mr Burke says he has consulted stakeholders extensively.
Michele Grady from the Pew Environment Foundation says the proposed changes will be a world first.
“It will be the first time that a nation has put in place the sort of protection that the science world is saying is needed to ensure that marine life is protected into the future,” she said.
“We know from the devastating impacts of fishing and the search for oil and gas globally where oceans are in very deep decline that we have to do it better here.”
But the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has refused to endorse the proposal, with a spokesman saying it is outdated.
It is calling on the Government to announce its final plan to protect the marine environment.
“There is enormous scientific support for marine parks. We have national parks on land, [and] we need to have national parks in the marine environment,” WWF spokesman Paul Gamblin said.
Furious commercial fishermen say the plan it will see businesses shut down and Australians paying more for their favourite seafood.
Read the rest. Watch the video here
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
• Ravenous consumption threat to third of vulnerable species
• A net full of hope on World Oceans Day
• Super-trawler fears justified. Liberal backing lashed
• Greenhouse gases largely to blame for warming oceans: scientists
A new US-led study, featuring research by Tasmanian scientists, has concluded that warming ocean temperatures over the past 50 years are largely a man-made phenomenon.
Researchers from America, India, Japan and Australia say the study is the most comprehensive look at how the oceans have warmed.
The study, published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, examined a dozen different models used to project climate change, and compared them with observations of ocean warming over the past 50 years.
It found natural variations accounted for about 10 per cent of rising temperatures, but man-made greenhouse gases were the major cause.
Audio: Humans blamed for warming oceans (AM)
One of the report’s co-authors, Hobart-based Dr John Church, is the CSIRO Fellow with the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research.
He told AM the study was one of the most comprehensive looks into the changes in ocean heat to date, “by quite some margin”.
Dr Church said the breadth of the study had “allowed the group to rule out that the changes are related to natural variability in the climate system”.
He said there was simply no way the upper layers of every ocean in the world could have warmed by more than 0.1 degrees Celsius through natural causes alone.
“Natural variability could only explain 10 per cent, or thereabouts, of the observed change,” he said.
Professor Nathan Bindoff is one of the world’s foremost oceanography experts, and has been a lead author on past Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment reports.
“Ninety per cent of the temperature change stored in the whole of the Earth’s system is stored in the ocean, so global warming is really an ocean warming problem,” he said.
Professor Bindoff said the new research balanced the man-made impacts of warming greenhouse gases and cooling pollution in the troposphere against natural changes in the ocean’s temperature and volcanic eruptions.
“This paper’s important because, for the first time, we can actually say that we’re virtually certain that the oceans have warmed, and that warming is caused not by natural processes, but by rising greenhouse gases primarily.”
And he described the evidence of global warming as unequivocal.
“We did it. No matter how you look at it, we did it. That’s it,” he said.
First published: 2012-06-11 05:14 AM
• MARINE RESERVES NEEDED TO PROTECT FISH FOR THE FUTURE
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Environment Spokesperson
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today said that Australia should be taking a lead on the creation of no-take marine reserves, in light of the data showing a crash in global fish stocks.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that a strong system of no take marine reserves would be the best way to prevent exploitation of fish by industrial scale trawlers like the FV Margiris, which is on its way to Tasmanian waters.
“Australia should take the lead and put in place the world’s largest marine protected no-catch areas,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The only way to protect a human-scale recreational and commercial fishing industry, as opposed to industrial-scale factory ships, is to ensure we are well aware of the risks of over-fishing and that we have in place a strong network of marine protected areas, including around Tasmania.”
“Soon the super trawler Margiris will arrive in the state, with a view to hoovering tens of thousands of tonnes of mackerel and redbait from the seas around us and off New South Wales and South Australia.”
“One of the Margiris’ principal targets is jack mackerel, the numbers of which have plunged 90% in the last 20 years.”
“But instead of balancing what we take from the oceans by protecting it through marine protected areas and sustainable quotas, we are seeing the old-school mindset continue to dominate, under the delusion that fish stocks are somehow infinite. They are not.”
“On behalf of all Tasmanians who recognise the importance of our marine environment to life on earth, I strongly encourage Tony Burke to make Australians proud, make us the envy of the world and announce that Australia has created the world’s largest network of no-catch marine protected areas.”
“If he does, he will be doing so much to protect our oceans and what lives in them and what lives from them. He will be helping to ensure there are fish for the future too,” Ms O’Connor said.
• Commonwealth Fisheries Association
11 June 2012
M E D I A R E L E A S E
The right balance for seafood – defer marine reserve networks
The Commonwealth Fisheries Association (CFA) does not support the proposed marine reserve
networks due to significant concerns regarding the impact to the commercial fishing industry as
well as many regional communities around Australia’s coastline. CFA is calling for the deferral
of the planning process until such time as these concerns are resolved.
“The CFA calls for the marine reserve network declarations to be put on hold until ALL the
impacts to the fishing industry, regional communities, and Australia’s future seafood supply can
be accounted for.” said Trixi Madon, Commonwealth Fisheries Association CEO. “The
community must have the opportunity to properly assess the benefits of our fisheries, which
are managed for sustainability, and other biodiversity conservation objectives.”
“The true future costs of the government’s marine reserve network proposals are unknown.”
Ms Madon went on to say. “It is not only the fishing industry and operators that are affected by
the significant uncertainty created by the current planning process it is also businesses across
the entire seafood supply chain and in numerous local coastal communities.”
Australian Government policy aims to address concerns about fairness and equity regarding the
impacts on fishers and those reliant on the fishing industry. This cannot be achieved without a
rigorous examination of the longterm costs and benefits of the government and industry
proposals.
“Erosion of the professional commercial fishing industry through ongoing reductions to fishing
areas compromises opportunities to run sustainable and profitable fishing businesses which
underpin Australia’s 6th largest foodbased primary industry. This is not in the national
interest.” said Ms Madon.
• Conor Duffy, Thursday: Burke to announce world’s largest marine reserv
• Follow the breaking news/comment on the announcement by using the TT News Dropdown menu
• Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage,
Greg Hunt MP
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry,
Senator Richard Colbeck
JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT
Thursday 14 June 2012
Marine Parks ignore science, risk seafood security and threaten coastal communities
The Coalition has a strong track record in protecting Australia’s marine environment, including the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and establishing a consultative process for marine planning.
The network of marine parks announced by the Federal Government today ignores science, puts Australia’s seafood security at risk, and will hurt coastal communities all around Australia.
In response, Coalition Fisheries Spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck and Shadow Environment Minister Greg Hunt have announced a Coalition government would appoint a science-based panel to review all boundaries in all zones.
“The marine parks network must be based on science and developed in consultation with the community,” Coalition Fisheries Spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck said.
“The network announced by Tony Burke today is not based on science, and we know that because Minister Burke’s own department has been telling stakeholders there is no science behind the lines on the maps.
“Minister Burke himself has admitted that the scale of lock-up in the Temperate East zone is a payoff for the vast lock up of the Coral Sea zone.
“Australia’s commercial fishing industry is greatly concerned by the size of these lock-ups and what it will mean for their businesses, and for the future of Australian-caught seafood.
“Currently Australia imports about 70 per cent of its seafood and, by current consumption rates and nutritional recommendations, we face the reality of importing an additional 850,000 tonnes by 2020.
“In a global sense, it is environmentally irresponsible of Australia to lock up our sustainably managed resources and then put pressure on the less sustainably managed resources of other regions.
“The commercial fishing industry should treat with deep suspicion the Federal Government’s offer of compensation. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be needed, but not one cent was allocated for compensation in this year’s Federal Budget.
“The Government has also failed to understand the importance of the recreational fishing industry to the economy in this process. The whims of green groups have been given preference over the recreational fishing community.”
Shadow Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the Federal Coalition has always supported a balanced approach to protecting Australia’s marine environment.
“We started the process of establishing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and a network of Marine Protected Areas in 2006 by working with fishing and environmental groups.
“Unfortunately, the consultation by Labor so far has been a farce.
“The Coalition strongly believes it is important to look after Australia’s marine environment as a whole, not just selectively pick and choose parts based on the demands of the most vocal stakeholders.
“It is Tony Burke who has failed to protect the marine environment by turning a blind eye to the illegal slaughter of dugongs and turtles by poachers in Far North Queensland.”
• TASMANIAN MARINE RESERVES STILL WOEFULLY INADEQUATE
Greens Urge State Minister Follow Federal Lead
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Environment Spokesperson
Thursday, 14 June 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed moves by the Federal Government to expand Australia’s network of marine reserves, but said Tasmania’s system of Marine Protected Areas within state waters remained woefully inadequate.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the marine environment is currently facing significant threats from marine pollution and pests, climate change and over-fishing, including the imminent arrival of the first super trawler into Australian waters.
“The process of establishing Marine Protected Areas in Tasmanian state waters needs to be restarted,” said Ms O’Connor.
“Eighty percent of Tasmania’s marine species are unique to this place and are found nowhere else on the planet, yet only one percent of the marine environment around Tasmania is protected.”
”After years of stalling on marine reserves, Minister Burke has acknowledged that it’s time for the world to turn a corner on protection of our ocean.”
“The Tasmanian Environment Minister Brian Wightman needs to follow the lead of his federal counterpart and announce a network of no-catch marine reserves in state waters.”
“We need to balance what we take from the oceans by protecting it through marine protected areas and sustainable quotas, but there is a persistent and delusional mindset that fish stocks are somehow infinite.”
“The Greens are calling on Mr Wightman to make Tasmania the national leader by matching the Federal Government’s announcement with strong measures to protect the ocean ecosystem within state waters. He should be reassured that he would have the support of the wider community, as well as recreational and commercial fishers who recognise the importance of no-take MPAs in replenishing fish stocks as has happened in New Zealand.”
“A strong system of no take marine reserves would be the best way to prevent exploitation of fish by industrial scale overfishing and to ensure that our oceans will continue to provide us, and the generations who come after us, sustenance long into the future.”
No biological reason for marine parks
14 June, 2012. For immediate release.
Following Minister Burke’s announcement on the national network of marine parks including the new Jervis Bay marine park in southern NSW, SETFIA’s CEO Simon Boag commented:
“There is already a network of 13 marine parks in south eastern Australia which combined with other fisheries closures have seen 85% of the fishery closed to trawling. The trawl fleet in the south east has reduced by more than half since 2006. There is simply no fisheries management need for marine parks in Australia.”
It is not hard to find evidence of the sustainability of Australia’s fisheries:
1. A February 2009 Nature Journal article ranked Australian fisheries management 4th out of 53 international fisheries.
2. Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig commented in a press release recently that “When it comes to picking fish that’s come from a well-managed and sustainable fishery – choosing Australian is the best option,” And, “By buying Australian, consumers are supporting sustainable fishing practices which means helping the environment and the Australian fishing industry”.
3. Fisheries scientists and Professors, Dr Bob Kearney (AM) from the University of Canberra and Dr Ray Hilborn from the University of Washington, released a paper in February this year that stated, “There have been some very serious problems with overfishing around the world, and some of them are continuing. But the global picture provides three fundamental messages; the problems are not universal, they are not uniformly distributed and the overly pessimistic view is simply not relevant to Australia. In fact Australians have excellent reasons to have faith in their fisheries management and to consume Australian seafood with confidence and enthusiasm.”
Given the demonstrated sustainability of Australia’s fisheries Mr Boag concluded, “We are saddened to see the extent of the national network of marine parks. This network has not been developed on a scientific basis and is not required for fisheries management. With respect to the South East Trawl Fishery we believe that the Jervis Bay marine park will have minimal effect on the industry provided trawling remains permitted as announced. Our members did not want to be displaced; all they ever wanted was to continue in a highly sustainable food industry. The Association remains committed to science based fisheries management”.
• Marine National Parks for Australia Need To Be Stronger and Tasmania Must Step Up
Environment Tasmania joined with national environment groups in calling on the Federal Environment Minister to strengthen the new national network of marine national parks, and is calling on the Tasmanian Government to step up to our local responsibilities.
“The network of marine national parks announced today by Federal Minister for the Environment Tony Burke, is an important step in creating the world’s largest network of marine national parks, but will not be strong enough to protect Australia’s incredible marine life from the ongoing impacts of fishing, oil and gas development, pests and climate change,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator of Environment Tasmania.
“Many critical areas around the country have not received the level of protection scientists recommend is needed. However, their move to create this network of marine national parks is a step in the right direction, and highlights how far behind the Tasmanian Government have fallen in protecting our unique marine life. The majority of marine life is found in coastal waters, yet even though Tasmania’s marine life is extraordinarily diverse and unique, just 1% of our coastal waters are protected.
“The Tasmanian Government has the same opportunity – to create a network of marine national parks that protect our unique marine life, rare ecosystems, and endangered species from ongoing destruction from fishing, pollution, climate change and pests.
“There is already a network of marine protected areas in the commonwealth waters surrounding Tasmania, developed by the Howard Government. These do not deliver adequate protection for our offshore marine life, with most of them allowing oil and gas exploration and commercial fishing. And Environment Tasmania will be seeking to have these reviewed in the next few years, to ensure they are up to date with current science, and have appropriate management plans put in place.