Fed: Kemp boosts protection for marine wildlife
CANBERRA, Aug 13 AAP - Marine debris such as plastic bags and abandoned fishing gearhas been declared an official threat to Australia's marine wildlife today under changesto federal conservation laws.
Environment Minister David Kemp today declared marine debris a key threatening processunder federal law.
Dr Kemp said the changes aimed to protect threatened species such as turtles, whales,seabirds and sharks from material dumped in the nation's oceans.
"Plastic bags, abandoned fishing gear and solid waste illegally dumped by ships atsea can end up causing painful injuries and death to dozens of marine species includingseveral endangered species," Dr Kemp said.
"The listing of marine debris as a key threatening process will mean a national threatabatement plan will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, such as local councils,state governments and industry and environment groups.
"To facilitate this process a threat abatement team will be formed," he said.
Experts say turtles, birds and whales are dying after being entangled with an estimatedsix million tonnes of annual debris including fishing lines, trawl net fragments and plasticpacking strips.
They often die painful deaths through asphyxiation or amputated flippers.
Household garbage and ship waste, including plastic sheets, synthetic ropes and paintsand adhesives, are killing endangered species such as the loggerhead turtle, southernright whale and tristan albatross.
Dr Kemp said action was already underway to phase out plastic bags.
"Earlier this month, governments and retailers agreed to work towards halving plasticbag use by the end of 2005, and cutting plastic bag litter by 75 per cent," he said.
"Environment ministers have called for a complete phase-out of lightweight, singleuse plastic bags within five years."
Humane Society International campaigner Avril Bones said the government was lockingitself into developing effective solutions.
"The recognition of marine debris as a key threat, and commitment to a threat abatementplan, is a highly commendable action on the part of the minister," she said.
AAP lm/sb/sco/de
KEYWORD: MARINE
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