Coral Sea Closure Announcement

Marine Queensland has expressed dismay at the announcement by Minister Garrett that the Coral Sea will now be a protected environment zone as part of the broader Bio Regional Planning processes that are underway across Australia.

"It would appear that this announcement is the first of what is expected to lead to the creation of a full blown marine park for the Coral Sea" said Marine Queensland General Manager Don Jones.

"The implication of this move is significant as the demponstrated impact of the GBRMP is expected to be similar if the proposal being advanced by Green groups in implemented.  This would mean a significant negative impact for the marine industry".

Marine Queensland facilitated a public protest meeting in Cairns which was coordinated by FNQ Regional Chairman, Wayne Bayne.  The meeting was attended by an excess of 1,000 people and a petition with an excess of 1,200 signatures was collected.

At a FNQ Region meeting in Cairns on the 19th of May, the meeting passed the following resolutions for the consideration of the Marine Queensland Board:

1. Marine Queensland creates a "Coral Sea Acces Alliance" as a mechanism for the collection of funds to advance the industry campaign against the Coral Sea Heritage Park.
2. Marine Queensland endeavor to replicate the awareness and public protest model developed in Cairns in other major provincial centres of Queensland.
3. Marine Queensland collaborates with other relevant stakeholders to achieve a national lobby and coordination campaign against this initiative.

The petition was presented to Jim Turnour MP (Member for Leichhardt) at the industyr meeting in Cairns on the 19th of May.