Activities Report Jul 2000 Newsletter

MARINE PARK FOR ANGLERS  
       The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) realizes that Marine Parks, as multiple use areas, function both as protected areas,  and  also as areas where limited marine recreational activities could be conducted.  However, the report in the newspapers that recreational fishing activities may  be allowed in Pulau Payar, Langkawi raises some concerns.
        Though news of increasing fish stocks in Pulau Payar is reassuring, MNS feels that perhaps, before allowing for fishing, it may be better to have a baseline (if not yet conducted) study first to determine fish stocks and other marine resources  around the island.
       By having such information, the carrying capacity could be determined, and from it, the number of recreational fishing permits and fishing areas within the Marine Park could be regulated, in order to ensure that fishing is at sustainable levels.
       Before allowing recreational fishing, perhaps it may be pertinent that there is enough manpower within the Marine Parks Division in Pulau Payar to handle the additional monitoring and enforce-ment duties, especially related to the prevention of encroachment into no fishing zones, illegal fishing, and to ensure these activities do not impair the regeneration and replenishment of reef life.
       Allowing recreational fishing into the marine park may increase revenues, but we must never lose sight of the fact that in the case of protected areas (marine and national parks, etc.,) conservation is the priority; all other needs and functions are secondary to it: allowable as long as the activities donot significantly impact on the area.
Kuala Lumpur, 17 April 2000 

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Created on 5th Jul 2000