Recfishwest joins Rex Hunt to Keep Australia Fishing

by RecFish West on 3 Jul 2012 Recfishwest and Rex Hunt have formed an alliance to keep Australia fishing. WA’s recreational fishing peak body and the popular fishing personality have come together to fight politically motivated anti-fishing campaigns such as the one which led the Federal Government to impose its recently announced Marine Park plans.

These efforts are in support of a new national recreational fishing advocacy organisation, Keep Australia Fishing, established today which is urging the government to reconsider its marine park proposals and allow Australians to engage in sustainable and well managed recreational fishing.

Rex Hunt is outraged the Federal Government has locked out recreational fishers from vast areas of Australian waters for no good reason.

'We want and expect good protection of our marine resources but Aussie anglers just don’t accept being locked out when there is no reason given,' he said.

'These lock-outs set a dangerous precedent. Acceptance of these no-fishing zones without any scientific backing or justification means anglers could well face more lock-outs in the future.'

Rex Hunt said recreational fishing should be embraced rather than restricted because it brought significant benefits to urban and regional communities on top of being an important part of Australia’s great lifestyle.

Recfishwest chief executive officer Andrew Rowland said Keep Australia Fishing had the peak body’s full support and was pleased that Rex Hunt was spearheading the initiative.

'We are asking the Federal Government, in particular Environment Minister Tony Burke, to seriously reconsider the Marine Bio-Regional Planning Process in the context of marine reserves for recreational fishers,' Dr Rowland said.

'The decision to lock us out of key areas fails to recognise the conservation measures currently practiced by the recreational fishing community and these lock-outs fly in the face of discussions and negotiations held with the federal government during the past five years.'

For more information visit www.keepaustraliafishing.com.au