Stop the ban on mako fishing!

Make no mistake people our fishing future is ON THE LINE and I am calling upon you to fight! 

THE PROBLEM:

As 29th of January 2010 recreational anglers will no longer be able to fish for, or keep, mako sharks in Australian waters.  In my opinion this Rudd government decision has been made with haste and has not taken into account any of the scientific evidence that suggests that our stocks of this species are in no way related to those that are in decline in the Mediterranean Sea. The only thing they have in common is a name and because that name is one of the many species listed on the EPBC act they have automatically been banned outright.  This is not right, this was not the intention of the EPBC act, the correct path should have been to consult the stake holders (us) through our peak bodies and devise a management plan to prevent the numbers of such species ever reaching a point where fishing bans were the required to keep the resource sustainable.  However this consultation never took place and mako sharks were coldly and swiftly listed for NO TAKE at the stroke of Peter Garrett's pen.  The reason they didn’t consult us was simple, they received the advice that there would be NO social or economic impact from such a ban.  A notion that simply defies belief, talk about the height of ignorance. The impact on both fronts will be huge, make no mistake.

Australian rec anglers have a history of taking steps to protect their own resource from overfishing, we do not need to be told what to do by those who understand very little about the sea and its creatures.  We self regulate well and already consult and work with our fisheries departments to create and maintain effective bag and size limits well before we put any of our fisheries under pressure or into decline.  Snapper limits and sizes in Victoria are a classic example, we initiated talks with fisheries and brought about major changes to keep this resource sustainable for many years to come.  Mind you that work may well be undone if that dredge keeps raping Port Phillip Bay and interferes with their spawning.  Mako sharks have never been targeted by us for any changes as from all evidence they are prolific in number and are under very little pressure from the recreational sector in this country.  So this Garrett decision really smarts when you consider that commercial fishermen will still be allowed to kill and keep mako sharks in Australian waters after we are banned.  What a joke.  Also countries that are not signatories like Japan will continue to kill and fin millions of these sharks every year. 

It gets worse. Extreme green groups like Humane Society International (HSI) and PETA have made it their cause to stop rec fishing in Australia and they are the ones pushing for this ban to happen.  The thing that is of great concern about this is they seem to have the Labour government in their pocket.  How is such an extreme minority able to wield such power?  Well, the reasons are not very clear, but one theory is the trading of preferential votes, the green groups have plenty of them and the labour government wants them, but who really knows what happens behind the closed doors when our rights are being discussed.  Major groups like fishers are rarely welcome or present at such meetings.  The green groups are only getting started too, the mako sharks are only the first on a very long list of fish they want to ban us fishing for.  What's next?  Bluefin tuna?  Marlin? Snapper? 

THE SOLUTION:

All it not lost, we can still turn this around.  So whether you fish for mako sharks or not it is absolutely imperative you act NOW to defend your rights as democratic Australians. This decision affects you and it should have only been made after consulting with you after proper assessment of the issue and its impact.  It's all just a big slap in the face from our so-called elected leaders, and the latest news I've just heard is that they believe we will do nothing about it and its going to be a cake walk for them.

Well if this makes you feel angry and you want to do something about it then ring and write to MP Garret and PM Rudd and express exactly how you feel.  Let them know you exist and your views matter and they stand to lose your vote come election time.  This is the only currency they deal in, not wrongs or rights, votes!  So get on the phone and keyboard and give it to them!!!

Here are the numbers and addresses you need:

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's office:  Phone (02) 6277 7700

Environment Minister Peter Garrett's office: Phone (02) 6277 7640 or email:  Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au

Also contact your local, state and federal members and express your views.  The more they hear it the more they will take notice, it's not too late, we just have to act strongly and swiftly and be very loud.  Go people GO!

Have a meaningful day, Winga.