Powerful Executive Chef Club sends a clear message about who owns the ocean

Absolutely thrilled to have the powerful Executive Chef Club join the Marine Futures Alliance of Australia.

Many people may not be aware, but the Cook Labor Government in Western Australia, only four weeks ago closed 900km of coastline to fishing.

The decision is the purest example of policy failure you will see.

The decision categorically proves marine parks have failed.

But why?

WA already has 2.5 million hectares of Ocean - in State waters (beach to 3 nautical mile mark) dedicated to marine parks, 21 State marine parks. Add to this 13 Commonwealth marine parks in WA alone.

And now the WA Government closes an additional 900km of coastline to fishing and 'buys out' every fisher!

The level of scientific and policy failure is off the chart.

But there is one salient message from this, for all governments and even the opposition: STOP using marine bio-regional planning as a morbid political strategy to suck the oxygen out of the environmental lobby.

It's dumb politics and it's dumb policy!

The ocean is owned by us all.

Fish stocks, industry, communities and consumers deserve better.

Dean Logan
CEO - SMEA
0403 195 798