Certainty restored for recreational fishers

by Alice Logan Edwards on 10 Sep 2013 The nation’s recreational fishing community has congratulated Tony Abbott on his election victory and urged his new Government to ensure Australia’s coastline was open for business to Australia’s five million recreational fishers.

The Abbott Coalition has pledged to end the controversial marine park lock out policies of Labor and the Greens which would have put 1.3 million square kilometres of fishing waters off limits.

Allan Hansard, Managing Director of the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation said 'the election of a new majority government would provide much needed certainty for recreational fishers.

'On behalf of the recreational fishers of Australia, I congratulate Tony Abbott on his election victory.

'Saturday’s election was a referendum on our rights to fish and the vote was overwhelming.

'While our rights to wet a line will be protected under the Coalition Government, I think it’s time for the other parties to revisit their policies.

'Labor and the Greens should accept the umpire’s decision and change their policies on the lock outs.

'All future decisions on the marine environment or fisheries management should be based purely on science and not politics,' Mr Hansard said.

Mr Hansard said he looked forward to making representations to the new relevant Minister, on behalf of Australia’s five million recreational fishers, once the new Cabinet had been sworn in.