17 August
2006 - Coral trout numbers on protected offshore
reefs are already higher as a result of the new
Zoning Plan, the Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, and Minister
for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop,
said today.
Senator Campbell said data from
recent monitoring indicates the new green zones
throughout the Great Barrier Reef are showing
substantive positive benefits.
The monitoring initiated by
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
as part of the monitoring of the Zoning Plan,
clearly indicates the green zones established
in mid-2004 in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
are having a positive effect even faster than
scientists expected.
The work was carried out by
the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
and James Cook University and supported in part
by funding from the Marine and Tropical Sciences
Research Facility.
Senator Campbell said these
early positive results are great news for the
long term future of the Great Barrier Reef and
positive news for the many users of the Marine
Park.
“These results are very encouraging
and I am sure will be of particular interest to
recreational and commercial fishermen. They will
also be reassuring to tourism operations that
rely on fish size and numbers to enhance the experiences
of divers and visitors to the Great Barrier Reef,”
Senator Campbell said.
“The amount of both coral trout
and stripey sea perch on protected inshore reefs
in the Whitsunday Islands have also increased
since the new Zoning Plan was introduced in July
2004.
“Fish stocks are likely to be
enhanced and benefit tourism and fishing through
improved health of the overall Great Barrier Reef
ecosystem. As an additional benefit, it is likely
to be an increased spill-over of adult fish and
the transfer of juvenile fish from green zones
to zones open to fishing.
There will be ongoing reporting
of what is happening with other popular species
such as sweetlip and red emperor. The results
also indicate the compliance programme designed
to protect the Reef is working well,” he said.
Minister Bishop congratulated
the researchers at AIMS and James Cook University
on their efforts in working with the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority.
“This is an excellent example
of scientists collaborating with local communities,
industries and other Authorities to provide an
ultimate benefit to the Australian nation. The
work of AIMS and James Cook University will help
to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
is a healthy ecosystem,” she said.
Senator Campbell said the Australian
Government was committed to maintaining the historic
levels of protection of the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park and Australia was recognised as world
leaders in Marine Protected Areas.
“Kim Beazley's policy will effectively
tear up Green Zones and throw the fishing community
and those who use the Great Barrier Reef into
turmoil,” Senator Campbell said.
The Zoning Plan significantly
increased protection of the Park and provided
a network of ‘Green Zones’, giving greater protection
to the Reef's unique and precious biodiversity
by prohibiting extractive activity.
It now provides one of the largest and best protected
marine parks in the world.
Rob Broadfield (Senator Campbell’s office)
Murray Hansen (Ms Bishop’s office)
