Recreational fishing allowed in NSW marine parks

The New South Wales Government has announced that it will lift the ban on recreational fishing in the state's marine parks.

It is part of an overhaul of the way the reserves are managed.
The State Government says that two new advisory bodies will now examine the socio-economic impacts of marine parks, as well as their environmental benefits.
The Environment Minister Robyn Parker says the move was made on the recommendation of an independent scientific audit last year.
"There's little or no scientific basis for preventing line fishing from land - from the rock face or the coastline - so we are immediately giving an amnesty to that," she said.
"Your feet have got to be on ground, but along the coastline line fishing again with a handline or a fishing line is going to be available."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-12/recreational-fishing-allowed-in-nsw-marine-parks/4567642

The NSW Greens criticised the changes.

''The existing bans on recreational fishing on some beaches and headlands exist for a reason, and that's because they do seriously affect the fish species that reside there,'' Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/relief-criticism-as-fish-bans-relaxed-20130312-2fyzk.html

The Australian Marine Conservation Society is appalled by the NSW Government's announcement today to allow recreational fishing in marine sanctuary zones. The move encourages illegal fishing from beaches and headlands in marine sanctuary zones.

http://marineconservation.org.au/MediaReleases-AMCS.asp?active_page_id=929