News Release January 16th, 2009
Happy New Year for the Solitary Islands Marine Park
Solitary Islands Marine Park ranger Luke Williams says the New Year is off to a good start with compliance over the summer season so far being quite good.
“So far this year most people have not been fishing in the sanctuaries, either offshore or in the estuaries. Compliance with marine park rules appears to be better than this time last year.”
He said though not everybody has been doing the right thing, with two men recently fined $500 each for using too many crab traps in the Wooli Wooli River.
“It’s timely to remind the public that it’s only legal to have one trap per person for catching crabs. These two men had eight between them and another eight traps were found in the vicinity.”
Luke says he’s really happy but not altogether surprised with the general good compliance in the park.
He says in the six years he’s been a ranger at Solitary Islands Marine Park he has seen perceptions and attitudes toward the park get better and better, as the public’s awareness of the marine park gets better and the local community begins to feel a sense of ownership toward the marine park.
“The community are definitely working with us. As a ranger I think education is the key, but at the same time it’s still important to have a presence in the park. Compliance issues will continue - poaching and illegal fishing is sanctuary zones needs to be monitored.
“Solitary Islands Marine Park is a stunning park and I’m just really thankful I can contribute to conserving this place for kids in the future.”
The Solitary Islands Marine Park is one of six marine parks in NSW. Protective zoning has been in place in some areas since 1991, making it one of the oldest marine protected areas in NSW.
The park stretches over 75 kilometres from Muttonbird Island in the south to the Sandon River and Plover Island in the north. The marine park is home to 550 species of reef fish, 90 species of hard coral and 600 species of molluscs. The marine park also supports a range of threatened and protected species such as the grey nurse shark, black cod, turtles, whales, shore birds and rare marine algae.
For more information on the Solitary Islands Marine Park visit the website at www.mpa.nsw.gov.au or call the office on 6652 0900.
Media Contact: Tonia Liosatos
Telephone: 02 6495 5024
Mobile: 0418 820 504
After Hours: 02 9995 5347