Swan Bay Green Zone
As a fishing club, we wish to be proactive for both our members and the fishing community.
An issue recently came to light when one of our members was spoken to by Marine Parks Rangers in front of the Swan Bay Green Zone. Discussion between the 2 parties was in regards to the boundaries of the Green Zone for this designated area and whether he was fishing in “the zone” or not.
Since this incident, we have had members and other fishermen who intend to fish the upcoming Flathead Classic asking about how the boundary is to be found.
We contacted Richard Orchard, the Senior Ranger for Moreton Bay Parks seeking advice and further insight, in order to understand where the boundary is for this Green Zone.
Richard, who is also a very keen fisherman, was kind enough to forward this information to us, which we have below for you to view.
Richard has provided an attachment of the map showing the outline of the Green Zone.
His second to last paragraph spells it out simply and is easy to understand.
The last paragraph is where they find most issues arise. Your boat may be outside the Green Zone, however, it is illegal to cast on to the shallower water which is in the Green Zone.
Richard has asked if anyone still has any questions to please contact him.
Marine Parks Rangers will be present at this year’s Flathead Classic to discuss this and any other questions you may have.
We hope this has shed a better light for you on the Green Zones and how to understand the Marine Parks boundaries.
Regards
Bruce Andersen
President
The area around Jumpinpin is a dynamic area with constant movement of shorelines and sandbanks and for this reason point to point boundaries do not maintain the boundary in the required position.
The Marine Park User Guide attachment shows the boundary at the time of the zoning plan gazettal in 2008. The Swan Bay jpg shows the 2008 boundary against the latest google image.
As you can see both Swan Bay and North Stradbroke Island have moved considerably.
Below is an extract from the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008. The highlighted section refers to the southern edge of Swan Bay
MNP31—Swan Bay–Never Never Creek
The area bounded by a line starting at the intersection of the mangrove line of the western side of North Stradbroke Island and the parallel of latitude 27°43.441′ south (at or about the point of 27°43.441′ south, 153°24.344′ east) then running progressively—
(a) east along the parallel of latitude 27°43.441′ south to its intersection with the marine park boundary on the western side of North Stradbroke Island (at or about the point of 27°43.441′ south, 153°24.506′ east); and
(b) generally easterly and then north-easterly and southerly (via
Swan Bay) along the marine park boundary on the southern end of North
Stradbroke Island to the most southern point of the marine park boundary on
the eastern side of the entrance to Swan Bay; and
(c) south along the meridian of longitude that runs through the most southern point of the marine park boundary on the eastern side of the entrance to Swan Bay, to its intersection with the coastal low water line of the southern end of North Stradbroke Island; and
(d) generally south-westerly along the coastal low water line of the southern end of North Stradbroke Island to its intersection with the parallel of latitude that runs through the most eastern point of Stingaree Island; and
(e) west along the parallel of latitude that runs through the most eastern point of Stingaree Island to its intersection with the mangrove line of the eastern side of Stingaree Island; and
(f) generally westerly along the mangrove line of the southern end of Stingaree Island to the most western extent of the mangrove line of Stingaree Island (at or about the point of 27°44.278′ south, 153°24.681′ east); and
(g) north-westerly along the geodesic (across the mouth of Never Never Creek) to the intersection of the mangrove line of the southern end of North Stradbroke Island and the meridian of longitude 153°24.646′ east (at or about the point of 27°44.238′ south, 153°24.646′ east); and
(h) generally northerly along the mangrove line of the western side of North Stradbroke Island to the starting point.
The actual boundary is the Coastal Low Water Line which somewhere inside the marked green zone on the attached and is a bit hard for the average fisherman to work out. A quick guide is to deduct the current tide height from the current water depth and if you get 0 or less you are likely in the green zone.
The other thing that catches some fishers out is when they anchor just outside of a green zone and then cast into the zone. The offence is to take or attempt to take from the green zone not were the fisher is located and by casting into the green zone they are attempting to take form the green zone.
Because of this fishers should not cast up into the shallows and work the lure back into the deeper water along the southern edge of the green zone but are able to fish from the low water line out.
Cheers,
Richard Orchard
Senior Ranger
Moreton Bay Marine Park
Great Barrier Reef & Marine Parks Region I QPWS & Partnerships
Department of Environment and Science
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P 07 31012090
34 Trafalgar Street, Manly, 4179
PO Box 5178, Manly, 4179
E-mail: [email protected]
