THE Coral Sea will not become a no-take zone, frustrating green groups, while angry fishermen say their future options must be spelled out in black and white.

"Either compensate us and take us out, or leave us alone," said Great Barrier Reef tuna operator Bob Lamason, the master of four boats.

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He was responding to the announcement in Cairns yesterday by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who ruled out a request from environmental lobby groups to turn the Coral Sea into the world’s largest fishing no-go zone.

Instead, he supported continuing a process of assessment expected to lead to a mix of both multiple use and no-take zones within the 980,000sq km region of ocean.

Mr Lamason said restricting his boats from any areas of the Coral Sea would affect the viability of his business and be bad news for Far North Queenslanders.

Mr Lamason’s fleet works exclusively within the Coral Sea and supplies a majority of tuna and other pelagic species to Cairns markets.

"No-take zones tend to lock out the more productive areas," he said.

"When they make an area (restricted), it also becomes a much larger area. Because of the drift of your fishing lines, you might not be able to fish within four to five miles of that area as well."

Mr Garrett tried to walk a line between conservation and commercial interests yesterday, assuring a future for some fishing in the Coral Sea.

But with higher costs of fuel and fishing licences, Mr Lamason said it was increasingly difficult for his business to survive.

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