QLD: Fishermen slam decision to keep them out of park

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-1999
QLD: Fishermen slam decision to keep them out of park

BRISBANE, April 2 AAP - Commercial fishermen have slammed a state government decision to
keep them out of Lakefield National Park in far north Queensland.

Queensland Commercial Fishermen's Organisation (QCFO) president Ted Loveday said the
decision to ban them from the national park came "out of the blue" and did not involve any
consultation.

Environment Minister Rod Welford announced an immediate ban on commercial net fishing on
Wednesday, amid concerns it was killing protected species such as crocodiles and turtles.

Mr Loveday said it was a "knee-jerk" reaction following recent media articles on the
national park.

"His decision was ill-informed and ill-considered, taken with little or no understanding of
the background of this issue and with no attempt to sort out a sensible solution," Mr Loveday
said.

"It raises real concerns for all resource industries that objective and rational management
of natural resources in Queensland will be replaced by ad-hoc decisions in the Minister's
office.

"It's made even more outrageous by the fact it overturns commitments by successive
governments for the last 18 years that fishing could continue in the area."

Mr Loveday said 23 fishermen were given permits to work at Lakefield until they retired
from the industry or died, when it was declared a national park in 1981.

He said there were now only four left, raising questions as to why Mr Welford issued such a
sudden ban.

"When these concerns were raised QCFO immediately contacted fisherman working in Lakefield
National Park and commenced development of a code of practice for responsible fishing in the
area," Mr Loveday said.

"A final draft was agreed to by the fishermen on Wednesday and initial indications from the
Department were that a code of practice could be the basis of a win-win situation."

Mr Welford said he was appalled at the deaths of protected wildlife and said the decision
would not be reviewed.

"I have been informed of a number of recent prosecutions against commercial fishers for
having unattended nets and quite frankly, one infringement is too many," Mr Welford said.

"It is unfortunate that one or two bad apples have spoiled it for others."

AAP mc/trm

KEYWORD: LAKEFIELD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.