NSW Environment Minister, Frank Sartor, has categorically ruled out a marine park being established in the Camden Haven.

Mr Sartor, who was in the Port Macquarie this week at the invitation of Independent MP Peter Besseling, said the NSW Government had no plans to create any more marine parks along the NSW coastline; instead it would focus on improving the management of existing marine parks.Mr Besseling said he welcomed the Environment Minister’s clear position on marine parks and expected it would help allay the concerns of local anglers.

“It’s unfortunate that outsiders have brought a campaign of disinformation in to our community which somehow took the giant leap of turning a non-government conservation group’s report into government policy,” Mr Besseling said.

“Recreational fishers have repeatedly been told over the past 18 months they would be locked out of fishing grounds in a so-called Camden Haven Marine Park, a 22,000 ha reserve stretching from Lake Cathie to Crowdy Head.

“We now have the Environment Minister making a clear statement that no such park is being considered by the NSW Government and I hope this brings some relief to local fishers and recreational fishing clubs.

“Recreational fishing not only is a popular pastime, it is a valuable contributor to our local economy, as identified in a 2005 Department of Primary Industries report which concluded recreational fishing was worth almost $23 million annually to our local economy and supported 276 local jobs.

“The government has now cleared the waters on its position regarding marine parks with the Minister responsible ruling our further marine parks in NSW and instead concentrating on the management and scientific research programs underway in the state’s six existing parks,” Mr Besseling said.