Misleading claims about proposed new marine parks has led to unnecessary alarm in coastal communities, a national alliance of conservation groups said today.
The Save Our Marine Life alliance of 11 conservation groups said there is already overwhelming evidence of the benefits of marine parks in Australia and overseas in protecting fish and the marine environment.
The Save Our Marine Life alliance called on opponents to marine parks to also examine the evidence of the economic benefits of marine parks, such as the lucrative tourism industry the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks has created.
Michelle Grady, spokesperson for Save Our Marine Life said communities should know the facts behind marine parks. Ms Grady is a former principal policy adviser at the SA Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and served as an adviser to Senator Janine Haines."There is now overwhelming evidence across Australia and overseas that sanctuary or no-take areas within marine parks increase fish populations," Ms Grady said.
"The University of Adelaide recently published a report outlining 63 science-based studies that provide evidence that the healthier environments found in marine sanctuaries led to an increase in fish numbers and a decrease in marine predators, such as the Crown of Thorns Starfish."
The University of Adelaide analysis includes evidence from studies conducted in Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef and Rottnest Island in WA, and from marine sanctuaries in New Zealand, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Chile.
"Claims that marine parks in SA are negative for the regional economy and will damage local tourism are misleading. You only have to look at the Great Barrier Reef to know what sort of positive economic benefits are on offer from a marine park.
"Marine parks increase fish size and number, and they do not stop people from fishing. The bottom line is that marine parks help put towns on the tourist map," Ms Grady said.
"An independent economic study of the south west waters of Australia less than two years ago, which included SA waters across to Kangaroo Island, found that creating marine sanctuaries would lead to a 20 per cent increase in tourism revenue."
Marine parks also provide safe havens for marine life unique to SA.
"Up to 95 per cent of fish species in SA are unique. There are almost 8,000 marine species found in these waters, including more than 700 species of fish," Tim Kelly, the CEO of the Conservation Council of SA said.
"The head of the Great Australian Bight is one of the most important breeding and calving sites in the world for the southern right whale. Populations of these whales are still slowly recovering from whaling, so they need safe havens for their young to grow and thrive."
In NSW, the Batemans Bay Marine Park has been in place since 2005. The manager of the marine park has confirmed that fish populations have increased by 210 per cent, including the popular snapper.
"On the south coast of NSW, local newspapers have had headlines such as 'Get on the snapper revival' and 'The best snapper fishing in a decade'," Ms Grady said.
Media enquiries: Michelle Grady, 0437 653 388 or Natasha Webb, 0410 729 594
