There will be much criticism of the Federal Government’s proposal to extend marine park zones in the Coral Sea and the other zones surrounding Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef is fully enclosed within the Coral Sea, and while the Minister referred to the area as “relatively pristine” he was probably comparing it to much of the planet’s seas and oceans which are said to be about 85 per cent fished out (except for Antarctica where the fishing industry has plans to do the same there including the exploitation of Krill).
Despite vested interests giving the opposing view, it is long past the time where humans must start to treat the seas with some respect and work towards sustainable outcomes.
A recent documentary highlighting a Japanese problem of jellyfish replacing the usual catch of fish gave precedence to the change occurring due to global warming, and about one scientist attributing it to overfishing. It would be nice to see some of our commentators take a reality check.
As outlined in a recent “Four Corners” program, North Queensland is set to entertain more environmental problems with its plans to decimate sensitive marine areas, with the establishment/enlargement of six ports for the export of coal seam gas. As if the CSG industry will not do enough damage to our finite agicultural land and aquifers. There will be further contingent possibilities of damage to the reef system with shipping increasing in size and number. I guess if the oil industry cannot kill off our eco systems, we can rely on the coal industries to finish them off.
Unless mankind begins to make some hugely significant efforts to protect our land and water environments and not consistently give in to greed, we are in for some enormous consequences in the not too distant future.
Ken Brown,
Invergowrie
