The agenda of US based environmental group Pew Charitable Trust to turn 972,000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea into a "no-take" zone is alive and well, according to Nationals Senator Ron Boswell. In November last year the Coral Sea Conservation Zone was declared after a disallowance motion was defeated.
“The twisted analysis by Pew of the cost of policing a no-take zone versus a 30 percent zone only proves that their plan for the destruction of fishing is still in play.”
“Pew has consistently stated that they would like to see the Coral Sea turned into a no-take zone and the research they have released attempts to move the debate in that direction,” Boswell said.
“This continual interference by Pew in pushing their extremist agenda is undermining the confidence of stakeholders in the Bioregional planning process put in place by the Howard Government to profile the entire Eastern Bio-region.”