Landing on West Island, Ashmore Reef, NT
Our recent visit to Ashmore Reef NW Australia in October 1996
allowed us first hand to see how inadequate our government departments
can be when it comes to setting up a set of rules that suit both the wildlife
and the visitor. West Island is a small island covered in low vegetation
that is less sensitive than other Islands of the Ashmore Reef Group in
that there is no large nesting colony of birds on it. However ANCA
(Australian Nature Conservation Agency) have decided to try and get
some revenue out of this by charging outrageous landing fees for
anyone that tries to organise a charter to the area. Here are some of
the facts that were pointed out to us by the officials located at Ashmore
Reef:
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The general public, visiting yachts and Indonesian fishermen can land
on West Island at will providing they let the officials know of their
intentions, swimming and snorkelling is permitted and there is no
charge
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Charter Vessels cannot land or visit any part of the reef without a
valid permit obtainable from Broome at a cost of $2000.00. Permits
cannot be obtained or purchased from the on site warden. They can
only be obtained from 9.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday in Broome
and must be prepaid.. Snorkelling is not allowed, however
swimming is permitted.
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No one except scientific personnel are allowed to visit other Islands
in the chain, which is reasonable given the sensitive nature of the
Terns and Boobies that nest there.
To me it is clear that little or no thought has gone into this set of rules.
There is now a situation in WA where charter vessels will not take
any notice of ANCA preferring to either land illegally or not go at all
rather than pay the fee. ANCA now have a bad name right
through the charter community and the word is spreading. Ashmore
reef is extremely remote and one would not expect any more than a
few charter vessels in any one year. I get very concerned when we
get departments like this looking after sensitive nature reserves
Australia wide when this is the sort of thing they come up with.
Apparently they didn't even have the decency to consult the local
charter industry, it would appear that they are more interested in
revenue than caring for our wildlife?
Does anyone have any other examples of difficulties with ANCA,
because I intend to write to the local MP and complain and would like
to have as much information to hand as possible. I would be interested
to hear what others think on this issue. Do you think that the $2000 fee is
reasonable? Am I going off the deep end? Do I have all the facts
correct?
Regards
Tony Palliser (Sydney, Australia)
Phone +61 2 9900 1678 or +61 2 94277563
Fax +61 2 9900 1669
Email or
http://www.zip.com.au/~palliser
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