Marine Reserves - a very contentious issue

The Surf Coast Branch of the Surfrider Foundation has been active promoting and supporting the establishment of a Marine Park at Bells Beach. The local branch has received a lot of 'flak' from local fishermen over our support for the Marine Park.

Recently we have re-stated our position in the press that we support the marine park because it makes sense to have the marine area of protection adjacent to the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve. The fishermen have consistently attacked us for 'banning them from the marine park' and ignored all of the positive protection and preservation arguments that we put up.

In the Geelong Advertiser of the 20th April 2000, it is reported that the local fishing bodies have banded together and will be flying planes over Bells Beach to photograph the damage that surfers are doing to the natural environment during the Rip Curl Pro. They are quoted as sayng it is their duty to monitor the damage that surfers are doing to the enviromnet in this way.

I think the fishermen involved in this stunt may have lost the plot. I have been involved in the Bells Beach Surfing Advisory Committee for three years and I have helped develop the GREEN BELLS strategy which is now five yers old. I have had input into the RIP CURL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

There are literally miles of bunting stretched throughout the reserve and grandstands keep people off the cliffs. When you consider 50,000 people will trek through here in four days the level of protection is world standard.

Hiring planes to take photos of crowds at the beach ....... ya gotta laugh!!!!!