OSPREY Reef in the Coral Sea is considered the jewel in Australia’s coral reef crown and the country’s most valuable adventure diving site, but an independent recommendation to the Commonwealth Parks Department proposes allowing fishing on half of the reef, while leaving the other half as national park.
Dive operators are up in arms over the proposal because they want to keep the place to themselves. In a recent interview on ABC radio, former Fisho editor, Jim Harnwell, makes the case that well managed, low impact recreational fishing is a sustainable way to share this sort of area and maximise the socio-economic benefits. He also refutes the claim of a science boffin that recreational anglers would deplete the reef of hammerhead sharks!
You can listen to the interview HERE.
