Special Report - Great Barrier Reef 'Green Zones'and how they'll effect you

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has tabled its Representative Areas Program to Parliament. While 'Green Zones' have been increased dramatically, most gamefishers are fairly positive about the outcome.

Gamefishers from around the globe breathed a big sigh of relief on December 3 when Dr David Kemp - Minister for the Environment and Heritage - tabled the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) Representative Areas Program (RAP) to the Federal Parliament.

Although the new Zoning Plan will lie on the tables of the House of Representatives and the Senate for 15 sitting days and is subject to disallowance, it is most likely that the RAP will be passed as tabled.

This is great news for gamefishers, as many of the historical gamefishing grounds have been recognised by the GBRMPA and zoned accordingly to allow trolling by recreational and charter fishermen, but exclude commercial operations.

The large fleet of boats that fish for giant black marlin along the reefs from Cairns to Lizard Island each year have most reason to rejoice, as this fishery was facing a grim future if initial zoning had been implemented. Fortunately, strong lobbying by the GFAA, QGFA, GFAA Research & Development Foundation, Cairns Professional Gamefishing Association, Lizard Island Game Fish Club and of course all you anglers out there, saw commonsense prevail - and most of the traditional heavy-tackle marlin grounds and bait-gathering spots will still be accessible.

President of the GFAA Research & Development Foundation Ian Bladin said: "A great deal of time and effort was put into reaching a workable solution to the process. We are confident that the good working relationship we have built up with GBRMPA throughout this process will continue as the RAP is implemented. On the whole, the minister and GBRMPA have listened to the concerns expressed by hundreds of gamefishers from all over Australia and the world, restoring faith in the public-consultation process."

President of the Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association Capt Laurie Wright also offered his personal thanks to the thousands of people who took time out to make a submission.

"Key gamefishing stakeholders have joined forces to successfully negotiate with both GBRMPA and the minister - an outcome which will see minimal impact on the majority of gamefishers," Wright said. "While we have had to concede some key areas, all in all the result is a good one."

The future of one of the world's most prestigious black marlin fishing tournaments, the Lizard Island Classic, also looks secure based on the RAP as tabled in parliament. The tournament had been placed in doubt after the first draft of the RAP was released in June '03, but according to Lizard Island Game Fish Club President Bob Lowe, we can rest assured the 18th Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic will be held in October 2004.

Mr Lowe said: "Following the release of the draft plans, we had letters coming to us from anglers around the world concerned about the closures to gamefishing outside the famous Ribbon Reefs. While we understand the need to protect the environment, and especially an asset such as the Barrier Reef, we do not feel that gamefishing damages the reef environment at all - and it was on this basis that we argued our case.

"We have lost access to some of our traditional bait-fishing areas, and some offshore Cairns areas have been restricted - but all in all, we are happy with the way the consultation process was conducted and are pleased with the outcome."

While it seems the Cairns fleet is happy with the outcome of the RAP, fishermen further south are not so enthusiastic. Anglers in the Whitsundays are furious that Bait Reef has been earmarked as a Green Zone.

Whitsunday charterboat skipper Capt Ken Bryant said: "Access to Bait Reef is an essential part of our business because it is the only reef within reasonable range for day trips out of Airlie Beach. We would have been happy to be restricted to the northern end of Bait Reef, leaving the southern areas to the divers - but according to GBRMPA this was too hard."

Another charterboat operator not totally thrilled with the RAP is Damon Olsen, who fishes the grounds from northern Fraser Island to the Bunker Group.
"We will be greatly restricted by the new Green Zones," Damon said. "Many of our traditional light-tackle grounds are now off limits. I am all for conservation... I just hope it doesn't come at the cost of my business."

Indeed, the RAP was based on one of the most extensive and comprehensive formal community consultations in Australia's history, extending over two years, with over 21,000 submissions from individuals, community groups and industry bodies. A large majority of those submissions were from the recreational fishing sector.

Under the new Zoning Plan, no-take or 'Green Zones' within the Great Barrier Reef National Park have been increased from 4.5 per cent to 33.3 per cent.

Interestingly, there are actually less Green Zones than there were before - they are just a lot bigger. This will create the largest network of protected marine areas in the world.

While fishing or collecting is prohibited within all Green Zones, anyone can enter a Green Zone - and boating, swimming, sailing and snorkelling can all take place. Travelling through a Green Zone with fish onboard is allowed, as is anchoring or overnighting. However in some high use or sensitive areas, use of a mooring may be necessary.

One rule that gamefishermen are hoping the GBRMPA changes is that if a fish is hooked outside a Green Zone and you fight the fish into a Green Zone, then the fish must be cut off. Anglers suggest that this rule goes against the conservation ethics of the RAP and needs to be amended.

One specific ruling to be written into the Game Fishing Code of Ethics is that there is to be no fish feeding at the Cod Hole. A popular pastime among gamefishers is to feed the local cod population with the day's bait remains or fish frames. This practice will now be banned at the Cod Hole, as scientists suggest it interferes with the cod's ecology.

All zone boundaries are now identified by latitude and longitude coordinates, which are provided in a schedule to the Zoning Plan. The GBRMPA is serious about enforcement, and fines could be in excess of $1 million for deliberate infringements contrary to legal requirements.

The 15 sitting days in the Senate expire on March 24, 2004 - and if there are no disallowances, it is anticipated that the Zoning Plan will come into formal operation around the middle of 2004. According to the minister, the implementation of the Plan will be proceeded by a comprehensive public education campaign to ensure that all reef users understand and appreciate the changes on the water. The GBRMPA plans to review the Zoning Plan every five years.

For more information including downloadable maps, visit www.gbrmpa.gov.au, email info@gbrmpa.gov.au or tel 1800 990 177.