FISHERMEN will air their opinions about the federal government's decision to implement the world's largest marine reserves in Australia through a new documentary to be shown in Tasmania this week.
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Drawing the Line is a tale about the country's oceans and the men and women who depend upon it for their livelihood.
The federal government announced in 2012 it would increase the number of marine reserves in Australia from 27 to 60, in a major step to safeguard the environment.
However, the documentary challenges whether restricting fishing in areas solves the problem.
University of Tasmania professor Colin Buxton, who is featured in the film, said fishing in Australia was not a threat.
"In the last 20 years or so we've gone from 42 per cent of our fisheries being classed as overfished down to around 4 per cent," he said.
Professor Buxton, who is an Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies academic, said the reason for the decrease was good fisheries management.
Gerry Geen, of Seafish Tasmania in Triabunna, also features in the film and discusses what ended to his venture to sustainable harvest redbait and mackerel from south- east Australian waters.
The documentary will be screened at the University of Tasmania's Newnham campus tonight in the Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre.
It starts at 7pm and costs a gold coin donation or $3.
An open Q&A session with the film's production team, Professor Buxton and Caleb Gardner, of IMAS, and Mr Geen will follow.
More information can be found at drawingthelinemovie.com.
