“WE FISH” Press release 5th September 2012

“WE FISH”
Press release
5th September 2012
For immediate release

The Gillard Government last night declared WAR on the Australian recreational fishing community
The Minister for Environment Hon Tony Burke last night revealed that the Dutch owned Vessel Abel Tasman (formally the Margiris) has been granted permission to over-exploit Australian Waters and to also exploit marine reserves that Australian Commercial Vessels have been locked out from.

We Fish Australia spokesperson Dale McClelland said “The hypocrisy of this decision is galling and will be a thorn in the government’s side until the next election.

“It is now amply apparent that no consideration of impacts from the super trawler’s operations on recreational fishing has occurred at all, nor the $8 Billion recreational fishing and boating generates in the Australian economy.

“As an absolute minimum the Minister for Fisheries Senator Ludwig should meet with RecFish Australia, Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation and all the State Recreational Fishing Peak Bodies and explain why recreational fisher’s valid concerns have been dismissed.

“The imposition of an enforceable ‘move on’ provision within cooee of a recreational fishing port to insure against the very real risk of localised depletions affecting recreational fishing was surely not that hard for the Minister to understand nor implement.

“The Minister’s response to the recreational fishing round table was veiled threats instead.
“Recreational fishers across Australia are now well and truly awake to the government’s neglect of recreational fishing and believe diplomacy from the peak bodies is nearing an end. This will be the last chance the government gets to talk with recreational fishers on this issue before the wet war begins” Dale McClelland said.

We Fish Australia now urge every angler to email both Minister for Fisheries Senator Joe Ludwig and Environment Minister Hon Tony Burke every day this week and to call their offices on Friday 7th And Monday the 10th September between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm voicing your concerns about this overseas owned vessel fishing Australian Waters.

Senator Joe Ludwig
Phone: (02) 6277 7520 or (07) 3229 4477
Email: joe.ludwig@maff.gov.au Mail PO Box 6022 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Minister Tony Burkes
Phone: (02) 6277 7640 or 02) 9750 9088
Email: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Media Enquiries: Dale McClelland 0400 902 492