Tweed River Bait & Tackle

On Friday 28th January the NSW Labor Government announced fishing bans at some of the state’s most popular fishing spots. Jervis Bay, South West Rocks, and the Solitary Islands at Coffs Harbour were all targeted in the latest round of fishing bans. Anglers thankfully aren’t taking it lying down. Local fishos from the far north coast are justifiably furious about closures to the snapper, pearl pearch and teraglin fishery, and proposed extensions to the Byron Bay MP. They organised their second protest meeting at Tweed Heads on Saturday 5th February.

The organiser was Angela Dennison, secretary of Tweed Coast AFA:
Tweed anglers are angry about Labor’s plans for more marine parks in their backyard

From Tweed News:
Earlier this year the Federal Government identified oceans off the region as an “area for further assessment” as it sought to develop a network of “multiple use” and “no take” marine zones.
The proposed area would extend from just south of Tweed Heads, south to the northern tip of Cape Byron Marine Park, from three to about 44 nautical miles off the shore at its widest point.
Which the Federal Coalition has promised to veto:
Last week, Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss addressed members of the fishing industry in Tweed Heads over the proposed marine parks, saying a Coalition Government would suspend the plan immediately.
“If the Labor Government is allowed to proceed with its planned fishery closures, our fish will need to be imported from countries where there are no management schemes in place, endangering fish species in other parts of the world,” Mr Truss previously said.
http://www.tweednews.com.au/story/2010/08/12/fishers-net-rally-supporter...
The Queensland Liberal/National Party leader Lawrence Springborg has promised a review:
The scientific study conducted under a LNP Government will be done by qualified scientists – unlike Anna Bligh’s Labor Government which used a University student’s PHD thesis as the basis for locking away recreational fishing areas.
"Fishing is one of the most popular recreations for Queenslanders and Anna Bligh has shut them out of Moreton Bay all in the name of saving her own job through preferences," Mr Springborg said.
http://bayjournal.com.au/joomla/bayjournal/environment/2012-lnp-wants-to...
Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey is on our side:
“If the recommendations in the report go ahead after the election an entire industry in certain locations will be decimated.”
http://www.tweednews.com.au/story/2010/08/13/tweed-marine-park-election-...
So fishing politics has basically divided along party lines, with the Federal Labor/Green coalition locking up the coast and the Liberal/Nationals promising to review or revoke, in both State and Commonwealth jurisdictions. Polls predict Nats MLC Duncan Gay will be the NSW Fisheries Minister by the end of next month. Here’s his position on marine parks:
The Batemans and Port Stephens marine parks we all remember were put together by drawing lines on a map at the behest of the Greens, with next to no community consultation.
Since then this Government, in an increasingly cosy coupling with the Greens, has pushed more and more sanctuary zones on our fishermen, locking up much of our prime fishing areas.
The Keneally Labor Government has done this with little and in some cases no scientific evidence. Kristina Keneally has shown time and time again she has little regard for regional communities and struggling fishing families affected by these closures.
I have long called for a moratorium on the creation of any more marine parks or sanctuary zones.
http://www.duncangay.com.au/Speeches/keneally-labor-government-and-the-n...
The Tweed rally kicked off around 9:30AM on Saturday morning. Considering the short notice a good number of fishos attended. Plenty of media there too, including a film crew from 60 Minutes and also the local (seat of Richmond) Green candidate Joe Ebono. 60 Minutes reporter, Charles Woolley, hosted a type of question and answer session. Keith Douglas from the Queensland Fishing and Lifestyle Party (seen below, back to camera) did a great job explaining how the bans are destroying our sport: