There will not be a ban on fishing in 25 new NSW marine parks after the state government backflipped on another controversial policy.
Just weeks after the government announced the plan to create the aquatic parks, Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair on Monday backed down on the most contested aspect of the plan.
Despite the proposal still being out for public consultation, Mr Blair said the government would scrap the plan for fishing bans in the new marine parks.
The plan to ban fishing in the new marine parks has been dogged by criticism and a targeted campaign by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
The minor party threatened to run in every coastal seat at the March state election, and campaign on the fishing bans, if the government did not back down on the plan.
But Mr Blair denied it was a backflip because the plan was still out for public consultation.
Environmental and conservationist groups have decried the backdown with one likening the decision to permitting hunting in national parks.
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