Tuna Fish Farm Threatens Surfing Tourism, South Australia

Say “NO” to Tuna Fishing Farm Planned at Victor Harbor (only 1 hour from Adelaide) near popular surf breaks and surf schools.

It has the potential to attract sharks and be detrimental to the surfing industry with possible loss of life.

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Join the PROTEST. Paddle out from Victor Harbor Yacht club. 10 am on Sunday 10 January 2016.

The South Australia Government HAS JUST APPROVED a fish feeding Aquarium to be set up next to Granite Island, approx. 400 metres. off the beach at Victor Harbor. Visitors will have the chance to swim with a range of native fish including southern blue fin tuna, hand feeding fish from a viewing platform, viewing fish from an underwater observatory.

Victor Harbor is a popular surfing area, with a large number of learn to surf schools and stand up paddle schools.

The proposed tuna farm, fish feeding aquarium has the potential to draw in sharks, with potential for shark attacks.

Any operation that has the potential to attract sharks is detrimental to the outdoor recreation tourism industry.

Shark attacks that have plagued the NSW coast in the past 12 months (Jan-Dec 2105) have resulted in businesses that rely on tourism, from hotels, camping grounds to shops, and other local attractions, to be severely affected, with research reporting up to 80% slump in business. (reported at Nov 2015)

In particular surf schools and surf shops have been hard hit. ASI surf schools from Byron Bay to Port Macquarie have reported up to an 80% drop in business.

Primary and high schools have stopped sporting activities that involved swimming, surfing, surf safety lessons or activities in the ocean. As a result, children are also being denied access to the sport.

Shark attacks and even shark sightings also have a dramatic effect on tourism and business. Not to mention the loss of life.

Local councils in NSW have called for a government study into the economic impacts of shark sightings and attacks on the North Coast.

The New South Wales Government says it will spend $16 million to help prevent shark attacks on the state's coastline in order to restore the confidence of beachgoers this summer (Nov 2015).

A FISH FEEDING farm and aquaculture farm, that the South Australian government has approved, would certainly attract sharks.

We call on the State Government to revoke the setting up of the tuna feeding farm.

We call on the Federal Government to investigate and ask the South Australian government to revoke the approval of setting up of the tuna fish feeding farm.

We call on any and all government departments and anyone supporting this venture to see reason, BEFORE, the surfing tourism industry suffers and BEFORE a life is lost.

26 November 2015. North coast business struggle as shark attacks scare away tourists and surfers. The Daily Telegraph Newspaper.

30 October 2015. Shark attacks hit NSW North Coast tourism’s bottom line. The Northern Star Newspaper.

22 December 2015. Shark Barriers to be set off Ballina/Lennox Beaches. The Echo Newspaper.

 

Photo reference:   adelaidenow.com.au

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