GREY NURSE SHARKS UPDATE OCTOBER 2007

Recfish Media Release -18th October 2007 Media Release

The Nature Conservation Council's appeal to the Tribunal against the Commonwealth Govts declaration that the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery be an approved wild life trade operation has  been rejected by Justice Downes - the Tribunal President.

This is a wonderful victory for commonsense and the application of  law over questionable science and emotional rhetoric by the NCC and its supporters.

This is a monumental achievement for recreational fishers and we must all heartily thank Recfish for having the gumption to take up the case to protect our interests. Thanks is also due to Julian Pepperell and Marcus Lincoln Smith  who gave evidence on Recfish's behalf and also the legal team from Deacons and our Counsel Geoffrey Kennett.

If you want to read a transcript of the decision then go to -   http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/aat/2007/1876.html

GREY NURSE SHARKS UPDATE JULY 2007

Court proceedings wrap up on 10th July 2007. Read the latest update here

GREY NURSE SHARKS UPDATE JUNE 2007

GNS Fight Moves To The Courts

RECFISH, the national peak body that represents recreational angler’s interest has joined legal proceedings that the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has initiated to try to force the government to create marine sanctuaries in key Grey Nurse Shark habitat areas. NCC is appealing against the Australian Government's environmental approval for the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery – a commercial fishery that is known to significantly impact on the Grey Nurse Shark. NCC will ask the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to mandate marine sanctuaries and fishing gear changes to significantly reduce the impact of hook and line fishing on grey nurse sharks.

Whilst originally aimed at commercial fishing practices, the argument has been somewhat expanded to include recreational anglers. RECFISH applied and was accepted to become a party to the proceeding in and effort to refute some of the evidence the NCC is presenting. RECFISH is seeking an order that the application of the NCC be dismissed.

Statement Of Facts

Read the Statements of Facts and Contentions here

Read The Expert Reports
As part of their preparation for the hearing, RECFISH asked 3 renowned Australian marine experts to present their views on this case in court:

Dr Julian Pepperell.  Read his evidence here
Dr Marcus Lincoln Smith.  Read his evidence here

Department of Environment and Water Resources (DEW) Reports on GNS
DEW has many papers and publications relating to GNS on their website.

Read the Western Australian report on GNS aggregation sites  http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/frr/frr155/frr155.pdf

Read the GNS publications on DEW website. (97 publications) http://www.environment.gov.au/search.php?query=grey+nurse+sharks&theme=all&type=publications

Contributors to AAT Courtcase

See contributors here

How can you help

Make a donation to the RECFISH legal appeal

For further information contact: greynurseshark@greynurseshark.com.au

Have You Seen A Grey Nurse Shark?

Help RECFISH establish a confidential sighting register of GNS. Fill in a GNS Sighting Form