18th May 2012

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Govt still pondering reef disaster declaration Add to favourites

Emma Pollard

Story Added : 24th March 2009

The Queensland Government says it is still deciding whether losses to the fishing industry due to Cyclone Hamish are significant enough to declare part of the Great Barrier Reef a disaster zone.

The Queensland Seafood Industry Association says a declaration is needed because the cyclone caused a major loss of fish stocks.

Jim Groves from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries says it would be the first time a natural disaster was declared for that reason.

"Whether it's a natural disaster or not is an implication of triggering some possible arrangements, that's all that means," he said.

"The issue is the extent of the impact and what the appropriate options are and we are looking at that.

"The issue isn't whether it's a natural disaster, the issue is whether there has been a sufficiently disadvantaged impact to the fishing industry that requires a response to maintain jobs in the industry to look after the people that have been affected by it."

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Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 24th March 2009

Tags: disasters-and-accidents Add_tag ,  cyclones Add_tag ,  environment Add_tag ,  conservation Add_tag ,  oceans-and-reefs Add_tag ,  rural Add_tag ,  fishing-aquaculture Add_tag ,  marine-parks Add_tag ,  great-barrier-reef Add_tag , 

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