While we benefited as a local business, it was equally a pleasure to see how much the ship’s passengers enjoyed the experience and to hear their positive feedback.

Peter Meares, Batemans Bay

Disputing fishy facts

John Perkins (Bay Post/Moruya Examiner 11/12/09) claims there is research showing how recreational fishing is a threat to the marine environment. He then goes on to give four examples. I would like to demonstrate his extreme anti-fishing agenda and why he is so wrong with his examples.

Firstly in the article written for the Sydney Morning Herald, James Woodford, an unquestioning supporter of NSW Marine Parks, quotes Dr Alan Jordan of DECC as saying the effects of over-fishing on urchin numbers and kelp has been studied south of Sydney. Woodford either misreported what Jordan actually said, or Dr Jordan was “sensationalist” with what he said as there is not, and never has been, any published evidence showing the presence of significant urchin barrens, due to the overfishing of snapper or lobster in NSW waters.

Secondly Mr Perkins points to a 2002 paper by Daryl McPhee “Is recreational fishing in Australia ecologically sustainable” to demonstrate that fishing is damaging. Unfortunately he should have asked Dr McPhee what his current thoughts are as this is what he said: “I consider that in the last five years in particular, recreational fisheries management has moved ahead in leaps and bounds. While there will always be challenges, we are getting the fisheries management processes etc in place to deal with them better than we have in the past. I am not an advocate of marine parks for marine parks’ sake and my views on the Batemans Marine Park and the quality of science are akin to that of Professor Kearney’s.”

Thirdly he claims that Dr Brian Pratt, a Canberra fishing tackle store owner, is concerned that a “lot of people are taking up fishing and have become too good at it.” What Dr Pratt failed to discuss in the interview is how recreational fishing in other countries with far greater populations is successfully managed without the influence of excessive “no take” zones pushing anglers into smaller and smaller areas. He also fails to mention that in NSW we import 90 per cent of our fresh seafood from interstate and overseas at a cost of $2.2 billion to the residents of NSW.

Fourthly Mr Perkins, without any studies of any description to back his claims, accuses recreational anglers of introducing caulerpa taxifolia to Durras Lake. If he could see past his extreme anti-fishing bias, then he should consider the more likely scenario of wading and migratory birds spreading this weed to Durras, as they most likely have to other coastal lakes.

Philip Creagh, Narooma

Radio needs to keep up with the times

It was great to see international and interstate visitors arriving in Batemans Bay during the holiday period - and us trying to show a sophisticated and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Well-heeled travellers came ashore from the cruise ship anchored in the Bay and were greeted by our official welcoming party, who looked resplendent and helpfully extolled our many attractions.

While in the Bay, the travellers may have decided to tune in to our radio station to catch up on local news. But what would they hear? They would have heard our local police warning people to slow down during the wet weather we are experiencing - despite it being a bright sunny day. And only one more sleep till Santa arrives. Good advice and up to date if you go back a few days.

Our visitors must have thought: “Who are these people? Some one should tell them Christmas was run and won five days ago.”

If the radio station has no recent news maybe they would be better advised to say nothing than rebroadcast ancient history.

Peter Middleton, Long Beach