Government failing to stop illegal fishing at dive site
Posted
The State Government has announced measures to combat illegal fishing in dive site where HMAS Brisbane lies, off Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Dive operator Greg Riddell says fishing in the conservation park area has become an increasing problem, despite hefty State Government licence fees.
"We don't mind paying those fees, as long as the Government follows through with their part of the bargain," he said.
Mr Riddell says he has written to the Government about the effects illegal fishing could have on diver safety and tourism.
"We're seeing a lot of hook and line and also we're seeing fish caught up on the wreck as well - fish swimming around with tackle hanging from their mouths, that type of thing," he said.
"It's just a little bit off-putting for people when they come there thinking that it is a conservation zone and they see those things - they're a little bit put out by it, it's just not right.
"People come from overseas and down south to dive this wreck and a lot of them are attracted to marine parks because they expect to see a deal of life, which this does support.
"However, when there's heaps of lures and rigs and ganghooks and metres and metres and metres of line that have been caught up on that wreck, then they become disgruntled with the fact that it's a marine park."
Liberal National Party (LNP) Maroochydore MP, Fiona Simpson, says policing has been left up to dive operators.
"It's one thing to say that there's a plan to protect the environment but it's another thing when there's no resources actually assigned to it," she said.
The acting Climate Change and Sustainability Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, yesterday announced patrols of the wreck area will be ramped up.
"It's great to see that the dive operators are letting us know and we need to act immediately," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk says there will also be a local advertising campaign.
She says she only became aware of the issue yesterday.
Ms Palaszczuk says the Government will boost public education about the fishing exclusion zone and increase patrols.
"At the moment they just go out there on a regular basis but we need to increase these patrols," she said.
"If there is information out there that people are doing the wrong thing, we will take action."
Search ABC News
Featured Video
-
Video
A massive blaze has engulfed homes in a San Francisco suburb.
-
Video
The widow of an Australian soldier has given birth only hours after his funeral.
-
Video
Melbourne Zoo introduces its latest addition - a newborn male Asian elephant.
-
Video
A major exhibition covering AC/DC's highs and lows over the last 35 years opens in Sydney this weekend.
The ABC News Online Investigative Unit encourages whistleblowers, and others with access to information they believe should be revealed for the public good, to contact us.
