Stop playing politics with marine parks say 47 conservation groups

The NSW government’s roll back of protection at Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay marine parks
represents an unprecedented attack on marine protected areas, according to Australia’s leading
conservation groups.

A coalition of 47 groups has condemned the State government’s roll back of sanctuary zones as
a cynical political move and a dangerous precedent in marine reserve management nationally.

Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Chief Executive Officer, Pepe Clarke said, “The NSW
government has justified winding back protection measures at Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay on
the basis that the re‐zonings earlier this year were rushed through and not based on thorough
community consultation.

“Today a community of 47 conservation groups representing more than 190,000 community
members refutes these claims as entirely unfounded.

“Protections for the Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay marine parks were increased following
extensive community consultation, including a review of almost 10,000 submissions and 70
stakeholder meetings attended by hundreds of people.

“The zoning plans introduced earlier this year represent a strong balance between conservation,
recreational fishing and commercial fishing needs. Weakening sanctuary protection is out of
step with the overwhelming majority of people in NSW who support marine parks as vital
havens for our marine life,” he said.

Australian Marine Conservation Society, Marine Campaigns Officer, Tooni Mahto said, “Far from
taking the politics out of marine parks as claimed, the NSW Government is putting them centre
stage in a process that has, to date, been driven by science not political whim.

“Their claims of a marine parks policy based on science not politics are highly questionable. The
NSW government is clearly demonstrating that it isn’t listening to the science, so how can the
public have faith in their approach to marine conservation?” she said.

National Parks Association of NSW Executive Officer Kevin Evans said, “Minister for Primary
Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson has claimed the re‐zoning was ‘rushed’ and did not consider local
community views. This claim is more than misleading, it is disrespectful to the thousands of
people who participated in a two year process that led to better protection of threatened
species, other marine life and their habitat.

“The community understands the importance of marine parks in safeguarding the long‐term
future of their favourite fishing and swimming locations. A truly independent and non‐political
scientific review of marine parks is an essential step for informed community participation in the
ongoing management of our precious marine parks,” he said.

View the full list of organisations supporting this media release in the pdf below.