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