Archived page, Submission Turquoise Coast Island Nature Reserves Draft Management Plan

Submitted to the Department of Conservation and Land Management 26th February 2002

Recfishwest's principle consideration in reviewing the above draft Plan was our serious concern in respect to the cumulative impacts on recreational fishing access. This concern has deepened due to the ever expanding number of proposals to limit access to Western Australia's marine and terrestrial lands adjacent to traditional marine fishing areas.

However, in this instance, we are pleased to advise that we support the directions delineated in the Plan.

We believe that the planning considerations behind the proposed plan have reasonably accommodated the needs of recreational fishers. The areas proposed for prohibited access appear to have largely been limited to islands or rocks that are either remote and/or difficult to access. Where access prohibition is proposed for islands where access is possible (eg. Beagle Islands), Recfishwest recognises the overriding conservation values inherent in the Plan.

However we wish to temper our support with caution. Our support does not imply ongoing support for further loss of access. The incremental loss means that we are more likely to oppose any future attempt to further limit access to those islands for which day use is proposed. Recreational fishers highly value their ability to access these locations. While we recognise the need to manage island conservation values we will insist on the level of access, (ie. to the inter-tidal reef platforms and beaches), which is proposed in the current draft continuing into the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this draft plan.



This page last updated on 30 December 2003.