* Federal Government to limit fishing on special reserves
    * Environment group Pew says news "a turning point"
    * New marine sanctuaries will help "rapid growth" and new marine life

FISHING, oil and gas exploration are set to be limited when the Federal Government introduces a world-first network of marine reserves around Australia.

Environment Minister Tony Burke will release the final plan for 44 marine parks including the Coral Sea and the southwest coast of Western Australia today.

The new reserves will cover 3.1 million square kilometres, or a third of Australian waters.

The reserves will limit fishing and some oil and gas exploration.

Mr Burke will unveil the marine reserve maps at Sydney Aquarium this morning.

"This new network of marine reserves will help ensure that Australia's diverse marine environment and the life it supports, remain healthy, productive and resilient for future generations," Mr Burke told The Australian Financial Review.

The marine reserve announcement comes on the eve of the United Nations Rio+20 conference on sustainable development in Brazil and will give Prime Minister Julia Gillard a public relations boost.

Environment group Pew described the marine reserve plan as a "turning point" in marine protection.

Spokeswoman Michelle Grady said establishing large marine sanctuaries would lead to rapid growth in eco tourism and increased stocks of marine life.

"But critical areas remain vulnerable to the threat of oil spills, including the tourist mecca of Margaret River, the blue whale feeding grounds off South Australia's Kangaroo Island and the extraordinary coral reefs at Rowley Shoals off the Kimberley coast," she said.

The Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Don Henry said the plan would make Australia a "global leader" in ocean protection.

"Although the reserve network bans oil and gas exploration in the Coral Sea, the northwest region has been left vulnerable to these threats," he said.

Commercial fishers are set to receive compensation from the Federal Government.

"We've got an adjustment policy where we will work case by case with the different companies involved," Mr Burke told ABC radio today.

That's good news. I didn't think anyone was interested in preserving something for the next generations. Hopefully the little kiddies of 2080 will see a real live fishy. Unless America nuke us of course.

Well its gillards policy and some liberal guy was just on tv saying how bad it was. I dunno.

SOB

Right on cue:

Fishing industry slams marine park plan

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8483350

Australia's plan to set up the world's largest network of marine parks has been hailed as a major environmental step, but the fishing industry is reeling.

The minister will make a final decision on the plan following a 60-day consultation process, but warned the process would not involve shifting lines on maps.

Nationals leader Warren Truss said the plan to create 44 marine parks was aimed at giving Prime Minister Julia Gillard something to crow about at next week's United Nations environment summit in Brazil.

Mr Truss said the massive "no go zones" would shut out commercial and recreational fishers.

"When 'lock it up' is the government's approach to vast areas of Australia's territorial waters is it any wonder our supermarkets are overflowing with imported seafood?" he said.

The government proposes a $100 million compensation package for commercial fishing operators, with the details yet to come and funding provided on a case-by-case basis.

Ms Gillard said the marine plan would affect only about one per cent of current commercial fishing activity.




It is expected that the final marine reserves will be declared before the end of 2012.

I still can't help thinking there's something more behind it. Has it been on the back burner for some time? It's not like anyone was pressing for a gigantic marine reserve, were they?

It just seems out of character for a right wing government to care about the environment unless they did a deal with the greens for something or other.