Queenslanders support visionary protection of Australia's Coral Sea

Nov. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- BRISBANE - At a crucial time in the federal government’s marine planning process, a poll commissioned by the Queensland Conservation Council demonstrates strong support for a marine national park in Australia’s Coral Sea.

The Queensland poll, conducted by Newspoll during September and October, finds that nearly 7 in 10 Queenslanders polled (69 percent) say they are “in favour” of making the Coral Sea a marine national park, to protect it from commercial and recreational fishing and from drilling for oil or gas. Almost 1 in 2 Queenslanders polled (45 percent) are “strongly in favour” of such a designation.

Support for Coral Sea protection cuts across age groups, with 77 percent of those ages 18 to 34, 73 percent ages 35 to 49, and 61 percent who are 50-plus, in favour.

“Close to 55,000 people have already signed a petition to support the creation of a very large, world-class, highly-protected marine park in Australia’s Coral Sea”, said Toby Hutcheon, executive director of the Queensland Conservation Council. “The Newspoll result strongly backs up this support”.

It is anticipated that the federal government will release a draft Coral Sea plan for public consultation this month.

“This poll finds a high level of support for the establishment of a marine park in the Coral Sea free from oil and gas extraction and all types of fishing. This designation will effectively protect the  spectacular coral reefs, amazing underwater volcanoes, and vital breeding sites for tuna, marlin, and many other majestic creatures that live in this region”, said Imogen Zethoven, Coral Sea campaign director for the Pew Environment Group.

The Coral Sea is renowned for its diverse marine life and healthy numbers of big ocean fish.

“The polling results reinforce what we hear at local community events in regional Queensland—that the majority of Queenslanders express a desire for a highly protected, very large marine park in the Coral Sea”, said Xanthe Rivett, Cairns & regional outreach manager for the Protect Our Coral Sea campaign.

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Media contacts:

•   Elise Hawthorne, Coral Sea communications manager, Pew Environment Group
Mobile: 0413 363 232
•   Daisy Barham, Coral Sea campaigner, Australian Marine Conservation Society
   Mobile: 0423 556 887
•   Xanthe Rivett, marine campaigner, Cairns & regional outreach manager, Protect Our Coral Sea: Mobile: 0406 331 214

Editors, please note:   
•   This Newspoll study was conducted in September and October by telephone among a representative sample of 602 people ages 18 and older in Queensland.
•   Newspoll question:
“Thinking now about the Coral Sea, which extends from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef to the edge of Australia’s maritime border with Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.  The Coral Sea covers nearly 1 million square kilometres. It has been suggested that the Coral Sea should be made a marine national park in order to protect it from commercial and recreational fishing, and from drilling for oil or gas. Are you personally in favour or against making the Coral Sea a marine national park”?
•   In the past 50 years, 90 percent of the world’s big oceangoing fish have disappeared because of overfishing.
•   Less than 1 percent of the world’s oceans are fully protected.
•   The Coral Sea is one of the last places on Earth where large marine animals can still be found in great numbers, making it a special place on a global scale.
•   A Coral Sea marine national park covering nearly 1 million square kilometres would be the world’s largest, and, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, would make an unparalleled contribution to global marine conservation.
•   Protect Our Coral Sea, a coalition of 11 Australian and international conservation groups, is calling on the federal government to establish a large, world-class, highly protected marine park in Australia’s Coral Sea that will provide a haven for marine life and recognize its historic significance. www.ProtectOurCoralSea.org.au
•   The Protect Our Coral Sea initiative includes the Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Pew Environment Group, Project AWARE Foundation, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Queensland Conservation Council, National Parks Association of Queensland, Wildlife Queensland, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre, and North Queensland Conservation Council.