The Paddle Out for Sanctuaries event scheduled for 11am, Sunday 12th of March at Bar Beach, Narooma, NSW might not be the smooth sailing that the organisers had wanted as counter protests take shape. Nature Coast Marine Group and Australian Marine Conservation Marine Parks Campaign members have called on ocean lovers to gather for a paddle out at Bar Beach, Narooma, to show their support for NSW’s unique marine life and habitats, which they say "are suffering from poor levels of protection". The organisers say that Narooma is close to one of NSW’s premiere snorkel and dive locations, Montague Island — one of 36 sanctuaries that have been opened to fishing. Australian Marine Conservation Society Marine Parks Campaigner Danielle Ryan said marine sanctuaries offer the highest level of protection for NSW’s marine life, yet since 2013 marine conservation has gone backwards in NSW. “Our Aussie sanctuaries are home to creatures that can be found nowhere else on the planet — we need to do everything we can to protect and grow this network,” Ms Ryan said. “Unfortunately, NSW has gone down the wrong path. The Batemans Marine Park community has been particularly hard hit by sanctuary losses. “This does not make sense when we know marine sanctuaries can help Australia meet our goal of zero extinction loss. For example, they provide overfished species a refuge to recover and thrive, such as the critically endangered grey nurse shark, the vulnerable black cod, and NSW’s famous official Fish Emblem, the Blue Groper — otherwise known affectionately by ocean lovers as Bluey.” Dane Wilmot, a recreational fisher and President of the Nature Coast Marine Group, said: “I see first-hand the impact we fishers have on the environment. We need some solid rules — fully protected marine sanctuaries are an investment into our future and for the survival of marine life and habitats.” Dive Industry Association President Richard Nicolls said politicians need to listen to our expert marine scientists in NSW. “This paddle out represents a decade-long fight in need of an urgent resolution,” he said. “Currently, only 7% of NSW’s waters are highly protected from extractive activities such as seabed mining and commercial fishing — NSW needs to lift its game.” University of Technology Sydney Professor of Marine Ecology David Booth said research is showing that marine sanctuaries are increasing diversity and abundance of marine life. “Five years after the creation of the Batemans Marine Park, research showed that fish abundance was 38% higher inside the marine sanctuaries than in partially protected areas,” Professor Booth said. “Yet, the government has opened up highly functional protected areas without any scientific reasoning for doing so. The science is unequivocal — we need marine sanctuaries to halt the mass extinction and climate crisis.” Countering the call to reinstate sanctuary areas that "are suffering from poor levels of protection" is Rick Shaw who is calling for a community boycott of the Paddle Out event saying on Social Media: OK Narooma!
Time to take action and protect what we, our families, friends and tourists enjoy about Narooma.
We`ve just survived the hardest 4 years through Bushfires, COVID Lockdowns and Floods.
We will not allow anyone to take away our recreational Prawning, Fishing, Lobster Catching, Snorkelling, Diving and Spearfishing at Montague Island, Brou Lake, Nangudga Lake, Clarks Bay, Freshwater Bay and Fosters Bay.
We need to stand up and fight for what we currently have, by not letting this "Paddle Out" happen without our opposition.
So, this Sunday 12 March by 8:00am, we need to get every boat in the water at South Bar Beach and also park as many trailers and cars in and around the entire Breakwall carpark to let our presence be felt.
We must protest against this “Paddle Out” by showing up in numbers. Our families can set up early for the day at the BBQ shelter and under umbrellas and gazebos on bar beach.
If this “Paddle Out” is allowed to happen un-opposed, we only have ourselves to blame if we get future restrictions on our use of Montague Island, Brou Lake, Nangudga Lake, Clarks Bay, Freshwater Bay and Fosters Bay.
I urge you, please get all your family and friends together to protect what we currently have and enjoy!!
See you there, this Sunday 12 March at 8:00am! In reading more of the interchanges between members of both groups it is clear that there is a distrust by fishers of what they consider to be the intent of the Batemans Marine Park reinstatements. In 2013, the NSW Government opened up 30 marine sanctuaries to fishing, undermining the purpose of marine sanctuaries in rebuilding fish populations. Seven of these sites were in the Batemans Marine Park.
Under pressure from the public, the government was forced to restore 20 of them, but in 2019 the NSW Government opened up six more sanctuaries to fishing in the Batemans Marine Park.
The Batemans Marine Park community first gathered for a paddle out at Narooma in 2020, calling on the government to restore lost sanctuary areas. Its calls have not yet been answered.
Possibly, rather than boycott the event or undertake back and forth slinging matches on social media, all parties could come together on Sunday to clearly understand exactly what is being sought, why and where and to listen to any and all concerns that are put forward by those who might well be affected.
Plans to establish a giant new Australian marine park in the Southern Ocean have re-ignited debates about the damage fishing does to marine environments.
Is it possible to fish in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and do Australian marine parks have the balance right?
Guests:
David Booth, Professor of Marine Ecology at UTS, expert on how marine communities are affected by human activities particularly in marine parks
Dr Michael Sams, Marine ecologist and Manager of the Marine and Coastal Science Program for Parks Victoria
Stan Konstantaras, President of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW
