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15 June 2007
Conservationists call for strong protection
for Moreton Bay
The Australian Marine Conservation Society and Queensland
Conservation Council today welcomed the recommendations of
the Independent Scientific Panel for the review of Moreton
Bay Marine Park. The scientists called for at least 10 percent
of each habitat in the Park to be protected in green zones.
The scientific panel also said that the 10% figure was in
line with ‘minimum international standards’ but
that amounts recommended in the scientific literature generally
fall in the range of 20% - 40%. They also said that presently
less than 1% of the world’s oceans are protected in
marine protected areas and this is the same in Moreton Bay
Marine Park.
Craig Bohm, spokesperson for the Australian Marine Conservation
Society, said, “Conservationists support the Scientific
Panel’s recommendations and advancements in science
and our understanding of our impacts tell us that Moreton
Bay marine Park needs and deserves high levels of protection.
We need to be aiming high in this review.”
Simon Baltais from the Queensland Conservation Council said
that “The review is about securing our wildlife, our
fish stocks and our lifestyle. Unfortunately some 200 threatened
turtles are found sick, injured or dead in the park and 15
dugongs (on average) die within the park each year. We have
already lost at least 50% of saltmarshes and a 20% of seagrasses.
If we want to secure the health and productivity of this special
place, its time we got serious about its protection.”
According to the EPA, fishing and collecting are not permitted
in green zones but snorkeling, boating, swimming and scuba
diving are.
Craig Bohm, Australian Marine Conservation Society - 0427
133 481
Simon Baltais – Queensland Conservation Council - 0412
075 334
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