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The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is outraged about the lack of protection provided to the critically endangered grey nurse shark in last night’s announcement of the Cape Byron Marine Park Zoning Plan.
“The New South Wales Government’s approach to the grey nurse shark is a farce,” said Ingrid Neilson, Projects Manager for the Australian Marine Conservation Society. “They are clearly more concerned about back-lash from recreational fishers than they are about Australia’s most critically endangered, much-loved marine animal,” said Ms Neilson.
“The Cape Byron Marine Park will be another nail in the coffin for the critically endangered grey nurse shark, which aggregates around Julian Rocks off Cape Byron. Byron Bay is privileged to have a critical habitat site for one of Australia’s most charismatic marine creatures at Julian Rocks,” said Ms Neilson.
“But this Marine Park exposes our most critically endangered marine animal to the greatest threat to its survival – which is hook and line fishing,” said Ms Neilson.
AMCS has grave concerns that the grey nurse shark will continue to suffer from incidental hooking at Julian Rocks, which is one of only sixteen critical habitat areas, or key aggregation sites in NSW. This shark is so perilously close to extinction. Its numbers are so few that one unintentional death may spell disaster for the population.
“The reef system around Julian Rocks should be fully protected from fishing, which is the main threat to grey nurse sharks,” said Ms Neilson. “But the New South Wales Government has protected only 56% of the Julian Rocks reef system, with a third of the area open to seasonal fishing and 11% available for fishing throughout the year,” Ms Neilson continued. “The very point of establishing the marine park is to conserve the area’s endangered species and outstanding biological diversity, but without adequate green zones it is questionable whether this can be achieved,” Ms Neilson said.
“If we can’t protect a species on the edge of extinction within a state marine park, where can we protect it from harm?” asked Ms Neilson.
“Recreational and commercial fishing is still permitted in a staggering three quarters of Cape Byron Marine Park,” said Ms Neilson. “If the NSW Government is serious about protecting our marine environment, it should give a higher priority to conservation in this Marine Park.” Ms Neilson said.
Marine sanctuaries provide refuge from fishing, mining and other exploitation, so that marine plants and animals, such as our grey nurse shark, can exist free from harm.
Media contact:
Ingrid Neilson, Special Projects Officer, mob: 0421 972 731 or wk: 07 3393 5811.
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