Clifton Springs Beach Identified as a Priority Area for Marine Protection in Victoria

The Victorian National Parks Association (VPNA) has completed its fourth  Nature Conservation Review which identifies the sheltered marine environment off Clifton Springs as containing flowering seagrass beds that support very high marine productivity.

Clifton Springs is but one of 20 priority areas that the VPNA would like to see be made into a marine park. They are campaigning the Victorian Government to protect an additional 20% of marine and coastal areas by 2012.

Below is a map of the identified areas by the VPNA which they would like to be make into marine parks in Victoria.

An article in the Bellarine Times by Garry Kerr on 20 July 2010 p. 77 states that this review was produced without consultation with all stakeholders and has not taken into account the socio-economic impact on the areas named.

Garry argues that:

"Recreational anglers, tourism representatives and commercial fishing communities need to make an unequivocal and united statement and tell governments and opposition parties across the state that they do not accept these latest proposals from the VNPA... Now, you can either sit back and take the attitude "she'll be right" or you can contact your local MPs - both federal and state, both Labor and Liberal - to get their parties to commit to proper consultative arrangements and inclusion of all parties when discussing our future prior to the next elections."

What do you think?