<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/05/conservationists-welcome-gillnet-fishing-ban-in-great-barrier-reef-world-heritage-area>
"The federal and Queensland governments will phase out commercial gillnet
fishing in the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area by mid-2027 and create
new net-free zones to better protect endangered marine species.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced the $160m plan Monday
afternoon and said it would significantly reduce net fishing and high-risk
fishing on the reef that injure and kill threatened dugongs, turtles, dolphins
and protected shark species.
Plibersek will also ask the Queensland government to declare the hammerhead
shark a “no-take” species for commercial fishers in Queensland waters,
something long called for by oceans campaigners.
Part of the funding will be used to buy out gillnet licences, with the majority
of gillnets to be removed by the end of this year and a total ban by mid-2027.
“We know one of the most immediate threats to health of reef is unsustainable
fishing practices. It causes damage throughout the reef, as threatened marine
life like dugongs, turtles and dolphins are caught in nets and drown,”
Plibersek said.
“The removal of gillnets in net-free zones on the reef has already helped boost
local fish populations. We want to see this happen right across the reef.”
The money will also fund the creation of new net-free zones in the northern
third of the Great Barrier Reef and parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria,
accelerate the implementation of a sustainable fisheries strategy and mandate
the use of independent data validation on commercial fishing vessels."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/goodnews-stunting-ocean-australia-wind-solar-europe/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
