News Release 27th July, 2009
Good public awareness of marine park over holiday period
It’s been a good season for snapper
in the Solitary Islands Marine Park
The manager of the Solitary Islands Marine Park Nicola Johnstone has thanked the general public for taking the time to understand the marine park’s boundaries and zones.
“We’re always trying to get the message through to anglers about the park’s zones and school holidays are a good indicator of just how well the message is getting through.
“I’m really pleased to report that there were minimal infringements over the holidays. It was a great time to experience the marine park with flat seas, excellent weather and a bumper snapper season on hand.
“There were also reports of some great catches of bream and tailor from the beaches and rocky headlands, with kids outdoing dad!”
Ms Johnstone said only a couple of fishers had been detected fishing in sanctuary zones, primarily in the central and northern sections of the park.
She said it was pleasing to note that no that infringements had been detected around Pimpernel Rock in Commonwealth waters.
Meanwhile Ms Johnstone said Marine Park rangers would continue patrolling the Solitary Islands Marine Park during the current lobster season to ensure that commercial and recreational lobster trappers were adhering to the regulations
“The eastern rock lobsters return to the waters of the Solitary Islands Marine Park during July and August and remain for a few months,” she said.
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.Antonia Liosatos
Snr Public Affairs
Department Environment & Climate Change
0418 820 504
02 6495 5024