REMEMBER WHEN

Monday July 10, 2006 Gold Coast Bulletin

THE popularity of whale watching would be the industry’s downfall, a local operator warned.

A Gold Coast whalewatching company called for an industry levy to go towards policing migratory waters that were inundated with private boats and an overcrowded commercial market.

The operator said some boats went too close to the mammals, and continued intrusions could force the whales on to a different course.

A regulatory fee had been in place at whale watching industry mecca Hervey Bay for many years, which helped pay for a marine park.

To complicate the issue, Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay were located on state waters but the Gold Coast fell under different laws.

With whales passing through Commonwealth waters, any issue of regulation would be a federal government matter.

Federal MP Steven Ciobo said he would take the issues discussed by the local operators all the way to Environment and Heritage Minister Ian Campbell.

While the need for a marine park was not as necessary off the Gold Coast, marketing manager of Spirit Of The Gold Coast Wayne Marsh said there needed to be policing and education, or the whale watching industry could die.

He said it was a case of love being a curse when it came to whales and the Gold Coast.

“There are three operators who go out every day of the season from the Gold Coast, and there could be as many as eight in total,” said Mr Marsh.

“The industry has a growth to it, but not one that warrants eight operators.”