Fishers hook into government

The Coalition’s planned changes to marine parks in NSW, including plans for an independent scientific audit of existing parks, would be one of the main issues up for discussion.

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RECREATIONAL fishing lobbyist Ken Thurlow says he will next week start a series ofministerial-level meetings with the new State Government aimed at protecting fish species such as mulloway and snapper.

Mr Thurlow, head of EcoFishers NSW, said he was currently booked in to meet with Duncan Gay, who is expected to be Primary Industries Minister in the new Parliament, and Rick Colless, who is expected to be Mr Gay’s parliamentary secretary, late next week.

However, he said the timing was dependent on the swearing-in of the new Cabinet and the wait could be longer.

The Coalition’s planned changes to marine parks in NSW, including plans for an independent scientific audit of existing parks, would be one of the main issues up for discussion.

“I’ll want to know what day this week theaudit begins,” Mr Thurlow said. “Cape Byron (Marine Park) is up for review and I’ll ask them to give that the flick and start the audit there.”

He also wants to know who would be on the scientific team auditing the marine parks.

However, Mr Thurlow said discussions on fish stocks were critical. EcoFishers wants size limits on mulloway and snapper increased and trawlers to install by-catch filters, particularly for mulloway, which were often unintentionally caught when estuaries were netted for prawns.