If you are not aware Moreton Bay in South East Queensland is now a Marine Park. My name is Matthew Hodson, owner of John Crawford Marine - Qld's Used Boat Specialists and I believe that that this an excellent idea as it creates for the new boatie and bay user a respect for the out doors just like the mind set when we enter a National Park on land. For most boaties we are out enjoying the bay as we want to enjoy it for what it is, beautiful and a relatively safe place to explore.

However within this park, bureaucracy has implemented "zones". These zones allow certain activities to be undertaken and also certain activities that cannot be undertaken such as  fishing, speed restrictions etc. Again most of the implemented ideologies have merit and will help the bay overcome the issue of being over loved.

But, the Labor government has based some of the Green Zones which exclude fishing altogether based on scientific data. This data is not available to the electorate. I have received this email below which is asking for people and bay users that are a little disturbed as to "what is the science" behind the closures and why isn't it readily available. Trying not to be sceptical, but it seems a little weird that this information was available prior to election but now its not... What is going Miss Bligh? 

Following on are the thoughts behind this petition from a well respected fishing journalist and bay user - Rick Huckstepp.

Rick, along with your support is asking the Bligh Government to make public ALL of the scientific information they have used as a basis to declare the various zones in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.  Rick is of the opinion that the information they have used is flawed, will not withstand independent peer scrutiny and is based on political outcomes rather than scientific outcomes that should have helped the Bay, the marine life in it and the Queenslanders who enjoy it.

The greatest injustice of the zoning is that recreational fishers are permanently excluded from the fish-rich green zones. So this petition addresses this injustice by asking the government to allow one hook on one line per recreational fisher in the green zones.
 
To sign the petition, simply click on the link, acknowledge the conditions, record the specific number given to you and place that number at the top of the ‘details’ page. Click ‘SUBMIT’.

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1268&lIndex=-1

It is that simple yet it may make all the difference to hobbies, businesses and lifestyles of yourselves and your children. If not for yourself, do something for them!

Matthew Hodson
Managing Director
John Crawford Marine