NSW announces largest marine park

The New South Wales Government has announced plans to establish the largest marine park in the state.

The Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, to stretch from Cape Hawke near Foster to Birubi Beach at the northern end of Stockton Beach, will cover 92,000 hectares.

The area runs from high water to three miles out to sea and includes a number of significant bays and estuaries.

Final planning is well underway, with an advisory committee announced at the beginning of February.

Local recreational anglers are represented on the committee by John Clarke, Max Frost and tackle store owner Graham Duffy.

NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus has told local residents there would be a long consultation process before the park went ahead, and that fishermen "would not loose all the prime fishing areas".

Mr Duffy said he expected anglers to lose ground to the sanctuary zones and was concerned in particular for the fishing future of Broughton Island and Seal Rocks, where there is already restrictions due to grey nurse sharks, and Cabbage Tree Island, which is a bird rookery .

It is anticipated that the park will be finalised by mid 2006.

Submissions can be made on the plan, and for more information visit www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/psglmp.htm
Report: John Ford