Alistair McGlashan

[squidgie]

Hi guys i was reading NSW Fishing Monthly and i come across this link to this article by Al McGlashan on Marine Parks this guy has his head screwed on right and talks a hell of a lot of sense, here is a link to his web site http://www.almcglashan.com, i also asked Al if he could put something up on site for all to see on Marine Parks.
we are always chasing our tails when it comes to the Greens and Marine Parks, we seem to lose all the time, so here is a guy that has thought about the whole deal and talks common sense, and it is exactly what i have said all the time to many chiefs and not enough Indians, to many groups fighting the wrong way and not getting together and work out a plan of action, to many of us think we know the way but guess what we don't, we need to form together and fight a common foe, i thought this was going to happen when i went down to McQuarie St in Sydney were all groups got together and said yep let do it, but here we are 5yrs later still the same old groups still saying we know what is best, about time we elected one body to fight this disease that has hit our coastal areas and threaten all fishers from the Australian way of life, time to fight guy's and girls time to stand up and be counted, this has gone to far.

here is my e-mail to Al

Contact Details
Name: Gary (squidgie) Palmer
Email: squidgie@bigpond.net.au
Phone: 0402415487, (02)66860223

Message: Al hi my name is Gary Palmer but most people call me Squidgie, Al just read your piece on Marine Parks and totally agree with what you said, i did a write up in the magazine i write for Bush n Beach and one for Richmond River Sun a small not for profit local news paper, i am a moderator on a local fishing web site and am involved in fishing industry, Al is there anyway you can post a write up on Marine Parks on our web site for all to see i know we can just link you in, , our web site is http://www.northcoastfishingnsw.com.au any info you can tell us would be helpful as we are trying to format a letter for all to post to all Ministers
cheers squidgie





hey gary keen to do anything i can to help fix this marine park crap. i am in NZ thar hunting but will be back next week and will do it asap

cheers al


----- Original Message -----
From: Gary (squidgie) Palmer
To: al@almcglashan.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 6:02 PM
Subject: Al McGlashan Contact Form

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squidgie

[squidgie]

Marine Parks are bad news for NSW anglers.

The Marine Parks Authority may promote the fact that no take zones are only a small percentage of the marine park but when you look more closely you discover that they have carefully selected all the prime fishing spots. Let’s use the Port Stephens Marine Park, which has locked me out of hot fishing spots like East Head and Seal Rocks which equates to 87% of the areas i fish in the park. This is a far cry from the few percent they claim to have taken!

It is even worse for the land based guys down at Jervis Bay they have been locked out of more than 90% of the areas they fish when you take into account the issue of limited access. Not surprisingly the anti marine park ground swell is growing as anglers become increasingly discontent. The flow on affect from nearly a million recreational anglers is now starting effect a number of areas but no where is it more apparent than in local tourism. The other day I drove through Bateman’s Bay which was nothing more than a ghost town and then on to Bermagui which was thriving.

By locking anglers out of the best fishing spots marine parks are discouraging anglers from visiting those areas that are encompassed in the marine parks. The fact that the Marine Park Authority seems to actively target recreational anglers only helps to deter them further. In Port Stephens a swivel on your rod can cost you a $400 fine and that is a few hundred metres from the boat ramp! The fine may seem excessive but when you consider it is more than most drink driving charges or possession of drugs you really do have to question the motives behind these fines. Honestly how can fishermen be treated worse the criminals!

The recently released report by respected environmentalist Professor Rob Kearney certainly highlights some serious issues of the ill-fated NSW marine parks. The funny thing is the fishermen are the best conservationist, because they are out there using and appreciating the resource and not sitting behind a desk reading a report.

If the Marine Parks Authority had worked with Australia's 3.6 million anglers instead of screwing them out of all the best spots they would have been the biggest allies. We need a better management system that includes catch and release zones, seasonal closures based on when species like snapper are spawning as opposed to lock outs. We also need more education to teach anglers and the community how to enjoy the sea again you can’t do this with lock outs.

Time to stand up for our right to fish!
Al McGlashan
Al McGlashan.com

[squidgie]

McGlashan Media
50 Trumble Ave, Ermington, NSW, 2115
www.almcglashan.com www.strikezonemedia.com.au
Proposed Marine Park Regulations 2009
Secretariat MPA
PO Box 1967
Hurstville, NSW

Dear Sir

As one of 3.6 million anglers in the country I feel it necessary that I comment on the MPA regulations. Marine Parks in NSW have been introduced with an authoritarian manner which has instantly turned almost one million NSW anglers against the whole concept. Marine Parks if introduced and run correctly should be inviting anglers because there is no bigger user group who are out there on the water all the time. Instead of being inviting anglers have had the door slammed in their face with lock outs of some of the best fishing areas and harsh fines imposed for seemingly minor issues.

- The MPA seems to have more power than the police in regards to enforcement and is widely regarded as anti fishing. We need to see more angler involvement at aboard level like a fishing advisory committee.
- The fines seem excessive and are greater than the imposed on far more serious crimes like drink driving.
- There is inadequate angler representation on the advisory board which is absurd considering recreational anglers are the biggest user group of marine parks.
- There needs to be identities from the fishing media advising the board to help get the message out to the fishing fraternity.
- Regulations should also consider the real issue of a duty of care for people using the park. There should be major upgrades of boat ramps, wharves etc to ensure public safety.
- There is a lot about in the regulations about fines but nothing about education and teaching the public how to use the parks.
- The issue of double jeopardy also seems absurd for a single offense.
- Marine parks officers should be transferred to either Fisheries or Maritime. It seems too foolish to have yet another department enforcing the same rules.
- Maritime and Fisheries need greater control/ involvement over management of the marine parks.

I feel that the MPA needs to act on these changes and work with the angling community as well tourism and commercial fishery to enhance the regions within the confines of marine parks. The growing resentment towards the marine parks can be turned around if we educate and include anglers in the decision making process. Shutting them out will only continue to increase the anti MPA feeling conveyed through the fishing and more recently mainstream media.

Regards

Al McGlashan