Media release

Reject Scare Tactics about Marine Parks

Tasmanians for Marine Parks is a non-partisan group dedicated not just to having more marine parks, but also to having a more sensible discussion about these kinds of issues within the community.

We welcome any attempt to talk sensibly with the Tasmanian people about marine parks.

We note recent statements from the Tasmanian Greens (19 April) supporting the creation of new marine parks. The Government is correct in pointing out that at some point, this policy statement will need to be backed up with more detail. The Tasmanian Greens detail only a total “10 per cent of our State’s waters”.

Tasmanians for Marine Parks is aware that it is commonplace to quote percentage figures as marine parks targets, but we would suggest that quality is more important than a percentage figure. How much needs to be preserved and where, is a matter that will ultimately be decided by the community. Any useful debate on these details isn’t likely to be finished before the next election.

No-one will be surprised that during an election campaign everyone seeks to gain an advantage over an adversary, and there is a temptation to bend the facts to get to a political end. Marine parks are not part of a plan to wreck fishing or family holidays. There is no plan among the vast range of people who support marine parks for vast “lock outs”.

Surveys are telling us that a majority of the electorate supports the idea of marine parks, even fishermen. Its an issue that conservative voters are interested in as much as Green voters. None of these people are going to allow any plan covering huge parts of the coastline, and we can’t see any real evidence that anyone is genuinely proposing marine parks like that.

Some sections of Guy Barnett’s media release are regrettable and should be thought about with a bit more care next time. Parts of the media release are an example of what we should not be saying when we try to debate these issues. The Minister gets too emotional, even equating marine parks with an assault on family outings and a harmless bit of angling at the shack. It references vague statistics which make the kinds of marine parks proposals that are actually being talked about sound bigger than they are ever likely to be.

It is slightly amusing that a proposal for “marine” parks is somehow even linked to freshwater lake fishing. This is an unflattering statement for a Government Minister to make, and we look forward to a more considered debate once this election cycle is over.

The reality is that it is mainly within the Government’s power to make a positive commitment to a new style of dialogue about marine parks. They can start by removing the moratorium on new marine parks that they have put in place. Removing this moratorium doesn’t oblige the Government to accept new marine parks, it only removes an obstacle to people like you having a reasonable discussion about it.

People who love fishing do not need to be made to live in fear. Tasmanians for Marine Parks thinks that everyone should be able to go out for a fish, and also have a reasonable chance of catching something when they get to their favourite spot. We are happy to talk in more detail about why we think marine parks are also good for fishing, as well as being good for the habitat that fish live in. They also help other marine life too.  Enjoying a healthy marine environment is a big part of the fishing, diving, kayaking, swimming and beachcombing day out that we all enjoy. No-one is planning to take that away.

We ask Tasmanian voters, regardless of who they intend to vote for, or who does it, to reject scare tactics. They are a relic of the past. The public has had enough of divisive environmental debates charged with too much aggression and emotion.

Everyone either supporting marine parks, or concerned about marine parks, should be able to have a say in a proper debate. We need to take a deep breath, calm down, and take our time to get that discussion right.

If people are concerned about marine parks and where they might be, we suggest that they make a longer-term commitment to the issue, engaging with other groups and talking it through. The Government should be making that commitment too.

Mike Jacques

Co-ordinator

Tasmanians for Marine Parks

moremarineparks@gmail.com