Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Opinion: Barry Haase on Marine Protected Areas
Barry Haase MHR
Local member Barry Haase says stakeholders will welcome the Liberal Party’s new policy on Marine Protected Areas.
Mr Haase is the Liberal Party candidate for Durack.
You can read his statement here.
28 July 2010
Marine Protected Areas
With many communities facing enormous economic and social losses because there has been no proper and effective consultation on potential Marine Protected Areas, Mr Haase, Federal Member, said the Liberal Party’s new policy on Marine Protected Areas would be welcomed by stake holders.
“A Liberal government will take immediate action to ensure that future Marine Protected Areas balance environmental preservation with economic growth and strong coastal communities,” said Mr Haase Federal Member
The Liberal Party will immediately put on hold the Marine Bioregional Planning process. They would then restructure the process, in consultation with the community and industry, within the first year of government. The restructuring of the Marine Bioregional Planning Process will address major community and industry concerns and will base marine protected areas on science. The establishment of a Ministerial Panel tasked with oversight of the design, development and consultation of the displacement policy will be jointly chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and Arts.
The Liberal Party will establish sensible and balanced marine park boundaries and develop management plans in close consultation with those people and industries that use the marine environment, including the recreational and commercial fishing sectors. These plans would be implemented over a reasonable period of time to assist with transitional arrangements.
When previously in government, the Liberal Party began the process of establishing Marine Protected Areas around Australia’s coastline with these areas intended to protect and maintain biologically and culturally significant marine areas.
“The current government has failed to engage in appropriate consultation with the community and the fishing industry, leading to unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty in the fishing industry. Many communities will face enormous economic losses unless there is proper and effective consultation on future Marine Protected Areas, particularly in relation to fishing practices in these areas” said Mr Haase.
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