Marine parks are once again coming under the microscope and the fragile marine environment needs your support. An inquiry has been launched into recreational fishing in NSW.

Conducted by the NSW Legislative Council's Select Committee on Recreational Fishing, and chaired by the Shooters Party's Robert Brown, the inquiry will look at, among other issues, marine parks. Not allowing evidence to get in the way of a strongly held opinion, the Chair of the Committee dismisses the science behind marine parks as "voodoo science".

The Nature Conservation Council strongly disagrees with this rhetoric. Marine parks, particularly no-take or sanctuary zones, are a vital tool for marine conservation as evidenced by a huge number of scientific papers.

Less than seven per cent of the NSW marine environment is ‘no-take’. This percentage needs to be increased without delay in order to provide proper protection for marine biodiversity.

Thank you to everyone who sent our recent cyberactions:
one to Environment Minister Frank Sartor and Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan expressing their support for expanding, not stopping, marine parks and sanctuaries; and

another to the recreational fishing inquiry , expressing their support for marine parks and suggesting management improvements for recreational fisheries in NSW.

Recreational Fishing Inquiry submissions have now closed and we look forward to the government's recommendations with interest.

You can view the full Terms of reference for the Inquiry into recreational fishing here .