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Fishers don't trust officialdom

Channel 9's Sunday program's (March 26) exposé on the science (or lack of it) on grey nurse sharks demonstrates the processes involved in fisheries and marine parks in NSW.

What I saw in that program was that where a fact doesn't fit the theory then chuck the offending fact out.

Back in the 1950s when I started my education, I was taught that the scientific method was to find facts, form a starting theory, test by way of finding new facts and modify the theory; not chuck out those facts that don't fit.

Fisheries said they expected to find seven tagged sharks in 160 surveyed, if their theory of 400 to 500 sharks was accurate, and when they found none therefore it doesn't count?

So if they saw one would it have counted?

What figure were they told to get?

Probably something more than seven would satisfy their political masters.

Certainly not what the Greens and Nature Conservation Council or the Iemma party would have liked being released before the recent state election.

This exposé is backed up by the personal experience of spear and free diver members of our committee who, like those on the exposé, don't want their spots to be either over-exploited as has happened in the widely known habitat areas or their reasonable legal activities prohibited.

While marine parks were being discussed, the MP scientists/officers were saying, "tell us where your fishing spots are and we will protect them for you" to continue fishing.

Surprise! That's where no-take sanctuary zones were placed.

Fishers have learnt from all that.

The lesson is taken to heart: Don't trust officialdom, extremists masquerading as greens or the just-returned NSW Iemma Government.

Ken Bond Umina Beach