Kimberley National Heritage listing fails to protect spectacular reefs

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (WA) Inc.
1 September 2011

Fishing and Conservation groups are alarmed over Federal government plans to allow trawling of an area one eighth the size of Tasmania in the pristine Kimberley at the end of the month.

The area is a recognised mistake in the federal trawl fishery. The Australian Fishery Management Authority that manages the prawn trawl fishery wrote to the trawlers that the area "has been described incorrectly. The Commonwealth fishery is meant to be in waters greater than 200m."

Dr Jill St John, Marine Co-ordinator for The Wilderness Society (WA) said the shallow area up to 30m in depth is dotted with coral reefs, as beautiful and significant as those found on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as sponges and seagrass areas.

“Trawling will destroy these pristine areas along with its marine life. The local trap and line fishery whose livelihood is currently based on the sustainable use of the area are outraged by this decision.

Bob Masters, Broome representative of the local trap and line fishery (Northern Demersal Scale Fishery (NDSF)) says “A recent harvest strategy allows this deep water prawn trawl fishery (North West Slope Trawl Fishery) to take more fish than scampi (prawns). One third of the trawl catch is thrown back.

”We fish for tropical snappers in this area and our fishery has strict effort quota restrictions to ensure stock sustainability.

“Trawlers have not been allowed into the area since the Taiwanese trawlers were stopped in the 1970s and since then the seabed habitats have regrown and the fish communities have been replenished.”

Grant Barker, of NDSF and based in Darwin, said, “We provide high quality fish for the Australian market and, unlike trawling, don”t destroy their habitat - seafloor communities.”

Emma Belfield of Environs Kimberley says "Trawling destroys coral reefs and sponge gardens that may be hundreds of years old. Trawling also kills high-risk and protected species, such as sea snakes and sharks, as bycatch".

Further comment:
Bob Masters, Broome 0408 923 454
Grant Barker, Darwin 0428 797 490
Dr Jill StJohn, Perth 0423 225 564