Van Styn seeks fishing vote

Nationals WA candidate for Durack, Shane Van Styn, has called on fishers to get behind the National Party and stop millions of square kilometres of ocean being locked away from fishing access from as early as next July.

Mr Van Styn said The Nationals in Government would suspend and review the Labor Government’s management plans for Marine Protected Areas ahead of their implementation on July 1, 2014.

“This move would certainly be welcomed in Durack, where fishing is not only an important industry, but also a popular recreational activity for many families,” Mr Van Styn said.

“Now we need support from fishing families throughout the electorate of Durack who love, use and respect the ocean, to make sure the Labor Government’s flawed Marine Protected Area is not implemented.

Mr Van Styn said Labor planned to impose 2.3 million square kilometres of new marine parks in Commonwealth waters from July 1, 2014, most of which would be closed to one or more types of fishing.

“This includes a total of 1.3 million square kilometres of Australian oceans where Labor wants to lock out all recreational fishers,” he said.

“If Labor’s plan continues it could prevent families from enjoying the very healthy pastime of fishing in many popular and easily accessible fishing locations.”

Mr Van Styn said The Nationals have consistently opposed fishing lockouts that Labor and the Greens are seeking to impose on recreational and commercial fishers right round Australia.