Community—con nues…

from Beagle Weekender Vol 301 March 10th 2023

OUT NOW—your latest Beagle Abode : Eurobodalla’s leading real estate guide

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.

LISTEN: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/is-fishing-destroying-our-most-precious-marine -environments/102042750

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