To Dive Clubs and Divers

The Department of Primary Industry and the Environmental Protection Agency have released the Grey Nurse Shark Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and Draft Public Benefit Test (PBT). In the document, they have highlighted a set of measures to get the Grey Nurse Sharks protected in Queensland. The proposal comprises of a Listing under Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation, protective measures including no fishing and regulated diving on 6 aggregation sites in south east Queensland (Wolf Rock, Gotham City, China Wall, Cherub’s Cave, Henderson Rock and Flat Rock). From a diving point of view, the RIS proposal comprises of a set of measures, to regulate the behaviour of divers diving with grey nurses sharks. The regulations are based on the GNS code of conduct - these measures are:


Divers must not:
 

• dive between 6pm and 6am

• touch or feed grey nurse sharks, or interfere with their natural behaviour

• chase, harass or interrupt the swimming patterns of grey nurse sharks

• block cave entrances or gutters, or entrap grey nurse sharks

• dive in groups totalling more than ten divers, or

• Use mechanical or electro-acoustic apparatus including, but not limited to, scooters, horns and shark repelling devices.
   

In addition to conditions of existing marine parks permits, tourist program operators with diving as an activity on their Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) permit and dive clubs must:

deliver a dive briefing to all divers prior to entering the water, detailing the regulations for diving with grey nurse sharks, and
display the regulations for diving with grey nurse sharks in a prominent position in dive shops that operate or promote diving trips within the Moreton Bay Marine Park, and on board dive boats.

The public has until 17 November 2003 to submit their comments and I strongly believe the diving community should voice they view in supporting this proposal for the sake of the GNS. Have a look at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb for more info. If you do not read the whole RIS, please just read section 8 which is the actual proposal.

Have a look at the powerpoint presentation which gives a summary of the proposal, its impact but also suggests some responses. The responses were formulated by the dive community and industry stakeholders who participated in the RIS. The responses can also be found in a word document.

If you agree with the suggested responses then you can insert your name and address in the pre filled response form in PDF format or you can also use the pre filled word version and modify it as you see fit. Alternatively, you can use the blank response form in pdf or word format and fill it in with your own comments or use the suggested responses as you see fit. If you do not wish to use the official form, please your response to all of the questions in a similar format and in the same order so as to ensure your response is taken into account. Responses that do not comply with the response format are still taken into account but as additional comments and do not weight as much as formal responses. Responses from other states and countries will also be taken into account.

You comments are valuable as they will influence the outcome of the RIS and the survival of the Grey Nurse Sharks. If you do not respond, the grey nurse sharks may not get protected.

Submitting your response
Deadline for comments is 5pm , Monday 17 November 2003.
The response form can be submitted by:

1) Post -
Grey Nurse Joint RIS/PBT
Queensland Fisheries Service
Department of Primary Industries
GPO Box 46
BRISBANE QLD 4001

2) Email - greynursesharks@dpi.qld.gov.au

3) Fax - (07) 3225 1823

4) Hand -
Queensland Fisheries Service,
Floor 2, Primary Industries Building
80 Ann Street, BRISBANE