Brian Williams and Rosemary Odgers

GREEN cops with the power to fine will patrol Moreton Bay to enforce new fishing bans but conservationists say that will not be enough to protect fish stocks.

The State Government yesterday unveiled its Moreton Bay rezoning plan, which bans fishing in 16 per cent of the waters stretching from Caloundra in the north to the Gold Coast in the south.

Only half a per cent of waters are currently declared green zones.

Premier Anna Bligh said the rezoning, to take effect from March 1, 2009, would ensure “our grandchildren will still be able to throw in a line” in the bay.

But environmentalists said 30 per cent of the bay should be no-go zones, while the seafood industry slammed the news as deceptive and secretive and warned that prices would rise.

Australian Marine Conservation Society spokesman Craig Bohm said the plan provided less than half the amount of protection needed.

Eight extra officers will enforce the new no-take zones, handing out fines ranging from $300 to $1500.

Go-slow areas will be enlarged to protect dugong and turtles species and artificial reefs will be trialled.

Under the proposal, about 544sq km of Moreton Bay will be declared green zones or no-take zones, while a further 7 per cent will be yellow zones, which means commercial fishers will only be able to use fishing lines, not trawlers.

“It exposes a whopping 84 per cent of the marine park to intense fishing pressure, providing little security for local marine wildlife into the future,” Mr Bohm said.

Around 100, or about one-quarter of the commercial fishers working in the bay are expected to be forced out of the area and take up the Government’s $16 million offer to buy out their licences.

About 26 per cent of the bay had been closed to trawlers but 55 per cent will be off limits when the changes are introduced.

Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association vice-chairman John Page said the ban would drive up prices for seafood.

“We’re going to get less seafood in the shop, and it’s going to be dearer,” he said.

Mr Page said it was equally important that recreational fishing be restrained through tough bag and size limits, otherwise the rezoning would be a waste of time.

Queensland Seafood Industry Association’s Winston Harris said the Environmental Protection Agency’s industry consultation was farcical.

“They kept the details of the plan and even the date and time of its release a total secret from the group who will be most impacted,” Mr Harris said.

“By contrast, you can be sure the EPA will have kept environmental lobby groups fully informed.”

Recreational fishing group Sunfish said it was too early to judge the impact of the changes but predicted it would “seriously impact” on local anglers.

Wildlife Preservation Society president Simon Baltais said threatened wildlife such as turtles, dugongs and shore birds faced an uncertain future.

“Coral reefs, seagrass meadows and, in fact, many special places have simply not been protected,” he said.

Professor Tor Hundloe, a scientist who compiled a report for commercial fishers, said the Government probably had it about right.

“But the real issue is the number of people living here and the way we treat the land. It’s too difficult an issue for governments who want to see more and more people and more and more development,” Professor Hundloe said.

Queensland Conservation executive director Tony Hutcheon said so many concessions had been given to fishermen the plan’s conservation benefits had been compromised.

Source: Courier Mail