-        Every single death significant in the decline of this critically endangered species 

Reports the new Minister for Primary Industries will lift fishing bans in the breeding grounds of the critically endangered grey nurse shark near South West Rocks could mean the end of this spectacular natural treasure, according to Greens MP and marine spokesperson Cate Faehrmann. 

“The grey nurse shark is so critically endangered that every single death is significant for the survival of the species.  Accidental hooking from fishing activity causes a significant number of deaths,” said Ms Faehrmann. 

“This is the 2^nd threatened species in as many weeks to be under attack from the new Coalition government. What deals are being done with the Shooters and Fishers Party to secure votes in the Upper House? 

“The Premier should immediately reign in the Primary Industries Minister, who clearly needs a 101 lesson in threatened species management.  

“The grey nurse shark was once called the ‘Labrador of the ocean’ by Bob Carr because it is harmless, despite its fierce appearance. As such, they are a big attraction for divers and provide a boost to regional communities in the form of tourism dollars. 

“Many sharks seen and photographed by divers at Fish Rock have hooks protruding from their mouths. These hooks can result in a shark slowly starving to death. 

“The science is in on the grey nurse shark. Further reviews won’t change the fact that fishing must be banned in areas where it feeds and breeds, including Fish Rock and Green Island, if this shark is to have any hope of survival,” said Ms Faehrmann.  

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727 

Photo from FlickR: Richard Ling

*UPDATE* Ms Faehrmann has tabled two Notices of Motion in the NSW Parliament regarding the situation at Fish Rock:

Ms Faehrmann to move—

1. That this House notes that:

(a) the Grey Nurse Shark is listed as critically endangered under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,

(b) the Grey Nurse Shark is listed as globally vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,

(c) the Grey Nurse Shark can live for more than 25 years and females do not reach sexual maturity till approximately 12 years,

(d) the Grey Nurse Shark’s gestation involves embryonic cannibalism which results in the birth of a maximum of two live young every two years after which the female enters a resting stage of approximately one year, which gives the species the lowest reproductive rate of any shark and makes them extremely vulnerable to human induced pressures,

(e) the Grey Nurse Shark is under threat from illegal fishing and injury due to accidental capture by commercial and recreational fishers, capture in beach safety shark nets, collection for aquaria and loss of genetic diversity resulting from the declining population numbers,

(f) the Federal Government issued the Grey Nurse Shark Recovery Plan in 2002 with the overall objective: “to increase Grey Nurse Shark numbers in Australian waters to a level that will see the species removed from the schedules of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999”,

(g) this Recovery Plan states that “it is obviously necessary to protect key Grey Nurse Shark areas from the risk of incidental catch. The protection should include establishment of effective marine protected areas and seasonal or permanent closure to commercial and recreational fishers for these important sites”,

(h) Fish Rock is a critical habitat area for Grey Nurse Sharks, and

(i) on 29 April 2011 the Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, revoked the recreational fishing closures that were introduced at Fish Rock and Green Island in January.

2. That this House calls on the Government to:

(a) reintroduce the fishing restrictions that were put in place in January 2011, and

(b) declare the areas surrounding Fish Rock a Marine Sanctuary Zone.

(Notice given 11 May 2011)

61. Ms Faehrmann to move—

1. That this House notes that:

(a) the Black Cod is listed as a vulnerable species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994,

(b) the Black Cod is listed as near threatened under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species,

(c) the Black Cod can grow to two meters in length and can weigh 80 kilograms,

(d) the Black Cod has a slow rate of growth, is slow moving, curious and territorial which makes it vulnerable to overfishing,

(e) the Black Cod has been depleted in the past by line fishers and spear fishers,

(f) the Black Cod is under threat by the key threatening processes of ‘Hook and line fishing in areas important for the survival of threatened species’,

(g) the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority has found that the Solitary Islands Marine Park and the marine regions down to Fish Rock are the most important areas for black cod abundance in mainland eastern Australia,

(h) the Black Cod Recovery Plan made 25 recommendations to ensure the survival of the species and has found that “The establishment of sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones provide protection for a range of marine species including the Black Cod”, and

(i) on 29 April 2011 the Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson revoked the recreational fishing closures that were introduced at Fish Rock and Green Island in January.

2. That this House calls on the Government to:

(a) implement the Black Cod Recovery Plan, and

(b) declare the areas surrounding Fish Rock a Marine Sanctuary Zone.

(Notice given 11 May 2011)

-         Bad news for the Grey-headed Flying-fox

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has warned of more bad outcomes for biodiversity and threatened species with the new Coalition government appearing to backdown on a pre-election commitment to phase out the shooting of the vulnerable Grey-headed Flying-fox.

“Orchardists, environmentalists and animal welfare proponents have previously clashed over the licensed shooting of the Grey-headed Flying-foxes, yet had found common ground on the only viable solution – government grants for exclusion netting,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“Now, the Minister for Primary Industries is talking about fast tracking licences to cull the Grey-headed Flying-fox and is even seeking further advice from her department on removing its vulnerable species status.

“An independent report commissioned by the previous environment department has already found that shooting this vulnerable species is ethically unacceptable and ineffective at protecting orchards.

“The government could be setting a dangerous precedent for threatened species conservation here. The Premier should immediately intervene and ensure conservation principles are at the front and centre of any decisions made.

“The abolition of the environment department is clearly already beginning to lower the status of environment in decisions being made by government. I’m extremely worried about what is yet to come,” said Ms Faehrmann.

Ms Faehrmann has written to the Premier asking for clarification on the new government’s position.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Cate Faehrmann says it is unacceptable that an original requirement for a ‘tidal flow’ reversible bus lane during the M2 widening was dropped, leaving commuters from the North West in worsening gridlock, with more and more  people forced back into cars.

“Questions need to be asked about mysterious RTA modelling of traffic flows. They clearly haven’t got public transport as the top priority. We need to get to the bottom of why this key condition for approval was dropped,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“The new Minister has requested a briefing, but should move quickly to reinstate the bus lane and find an urgent solution to any safety concerns without reducing public transport service and efficiency.

‘Why is it that public transport always plays second fiddle to the private interests of motorway companies?

“It’s time for the new government to put the interests of commuters first, to reduce congestion and kick-start Sydney’s economy.

“The cost of congestion in Sydney is always sky-high, with serious impacts on the community. But an extra two hours of gridlock every week on the M2 for two years? This is madness” said Ms Faehrmann.

The Greens want the department to look at urgent options for the reinstatement of the original Part 3A condition for Transurban to set up a ”tidal bus flow arrangement from Windsor Road to Pennant Hills Road and from Pennant Hills Road to a suitable merge point near the Kirkham Street bridge”.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727 

New South Wales in currently experiencing a mining rush. Communities from across the state are either fighting off new mines, or dealing with the environmental, health and other impacts of existing ones. As a part of my True Cost of Mining Tour, I’ve been reviewing the state of mining in NSW and have collated this interactive map.

It’s a work in progress. Click on the mine markers for more information about that mine. You can zoom in, out and move the map around. If you notice any mistakes or have an update to report, please email cate.faehrmann@parliament.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9230 2320. We hope you find it a useful resource.

View Greens Mine Map – ALL in a larger map

Greens MP and transport spokesperson in NSW Cate Faehrmann says the Premier is right to advocate for high speed rail over a second Sydney airport.

“Good on the Premier for having the common sense to reject a second airport in favour of high speed rail,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“Oil depletion is just around the corner, and the Melbourne-Sydney flight route is the 4th busiest in the world. We need to plan for alternative transport solutions and high speed rail is the answer.

“I congratulate the Premier for catching on to the Greens vision for high speed rail, which has been advocated by the Australian Greens for many years now.

“A high speed rail service on Australia’s east coast could provide fast, reliable and clean transport for up to 75 percent of the nation’s population.

“A second airport would increase our dependence on oil and increase greenhouse emissions. High speed rail would reduce pollution, congestion and road accidents,” said Ms Faehrmann.