Recreational fishing must now close as well - 20 April 2006

Greens MLC Ian Cohen has urged NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian
Macdonald, to move to close Sydney harbour to recreational fishing on
top of the existing commercial fishing ban.

"To allow recreational fishing and eating of Sydney harbour seafood
to continue would be reckless," Mr Cohen said.

"The Minister must now take the tough decision and act decisively to
protect the health of the Sydney population.

"It is not just the fisherman themselves who might be eating the
catch. There is a lot of 'recreational' catch being sold privately
and directly to restaurants.

"'Shamamateurs' (amateur fishers taking commercial quantities of fish
for sale) are a well known feature in the industry.

"In light of the revelations on last night's 7.30 report, the health
risks to the people of Sydney are obviously too high.

"Years of inaction by the Government mean that it is not only fishing
industry employees that have been put at risk of dioxin contamination
but thousands and thousands of Sydneysiders who have regularly been
eating Sydney harbour seafood.

"It is disappointing that it is come to this but we all have to face
the devastating reality of the situation," Mr Cohen said.