Remote technologies to watch for poachers
VESSEL monitoring technology will be used to regulate the Coral Sea rather than having more patrols, under the new management plan for the offshore reserve.
Far North Queenslanders have until September 20 to provide feedback on the Federal Government’s draft plans for the 989,842sq km conservation zone, under the review of Australia’s marine parks.
Australia’s national network of marine parks was established by Labor in 2012, and suspended by the Abbott government one year later, which committed to a review of the management scheme.
The draft plan for the Coral Sea has so far been met with a mixed reaction from stakeholders, including tour operators, game fishermen, commercial fishers and conservationists.
Sally Barnes, the Federal Government’s director of national parks, said it was important there was no duplication of regulation between different agencies when it came to managing the reserve.
“We’re talking to other regulatory agencies about how we work with them and how they help us to regulate, and how we help them,” she said.
“We’re talking to State Government, we’re taking to AFMA (Australian Fisheries Management Authority), we’re talking to the tourism industry, we’re talking to scientists and rec fishers as well, to make sure we can have more eyes on the ocean.”
She said the department was also examining new enforcement and monitoring technologies, including acoustic monitoring, and vessel monitoring systems.
“I think if you really have the outcome in mind, and then have the enforcement and compliance to fit that,” she said. “This is beyond people in boats.
“We need people out there.
“We need people to work with us, to be our eyes and ears on the water, but we also need to really be smart about new technologies.”
Dozens of Vietnamese illegal fishers have been apprehended in Australian waters off Queensland, including the Coral Sea, since March 1 last year, poaching sea cucumbers.
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