The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) and National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcome reports that the State government has responded to community and scientific views and withdrawn its support for the Shooters party’s five-year moratorium on new marine parks and sanctuaries in NSW.
The Government’s decision provides strong hope for better protection of our precious marine life and habitats through a world-class network of protected marine areas along the NSW coast.
It follows a robust campaign involving 45 state and national environment organisations representing more than 590,000 Australians, led by the NCC and NPA, condemning the proposal as a huge step backward for the sustainable management of the NSW marine environment. Leaders in the Government and Opposition received a flood of more than 18,000 emails rejecting the proposal.
“The rejection of the Shooters party’s bill upholds the NSW government’s proud legacy on marine parks and could help chart a course for improving the long-term sustainability and productivity of our coastal fisheries,” Nature Conservation Council of NSW CEO, Pepe Clarke, said today.
“Marine species and ecosystems are under pressure from overfishing, pollution, climate change and many other human activities. A comprehensive network of marine parks is the most effective way of protecting our oceans and the marine life that call them home,” he said.
“We can now look forward to reengaging in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to secure the sustainable future of both our unique marine biodiversity and coastal communities,” National Parks Association of NSW Executive Director, Kevin Evans, said.
