Commonwealth marine reserves

National map of Commonwealth marine reserves (2012)

Commonwealth marine reserves are protected marine environments within Australian waters and are managed by the federal government. These waters generally extend from three nautical miles off the coast to the outer limit of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles).  Marine reserves closer in-shore are the responsibility of the states or the Northern Territory.

History

In 2012, the Australian government revealed plans to create the world's largest marine reserve network, made up of five main zones in offshore waters surrounding every state and territory.[1] The number of marine reserves off the Australian coast would increase from 27 to 60 and would cover 3,100,000 km2 (1,200,000 sq mi) of ocean including the entire Coral Sea.[2] The planned expansion of the reserves continued the bipartisan work of successive administrations, beginning with the oceans policy of the Howard Government in 1998.[3] The plans were met with criticism by commercial and recreational fishers, for being too restrictive, and by environment groups for skirting areas of potential oil and gas prospectively, and that just a small amount of the total area completely off-limits fishing.[1][4]

Review

In 2014 a review was commissioned by the Abbott government for the 40 reserves that were established in November 2012.[5][6]

The results of the review were released in September 2016, which recommended zoning changes to 26 of 40 reserves and reductions to the area available to mining, while reducing the impact on commercial fisheries.[7] Protected area for the Coral Sea will be cut by 10 per cent (97,000 km2 (37,000 sq mi)), but will still cover about 41 per cent of the reserve. Protection for Coral Sea reefs would improve, with six new reefs added to the protected zone.[6]

Until a revised management plan due mid 2017 is released, the Commonwealth marine reserve networks declared in 2012 are not in effect.[5][6]

Protection zones

Within each reserve there may be multiple zoned areas, each zone has an IUCN protected area category and particular restrictions on activities that can be undertaken.[8]

Zone IUCN Activities permitted
Recreational fishing Commercial fishing Mining
Sanctuary Ia No No No
Marine National Park II No No No
Habitat Protection IV Yes with approval No
Recreational Use IV Yes No No
Special Purpose VI Yes No with approval
Multiple Use VI Yes with approval with approval
[Note 1]

Reserves

Commonwealth marine reserves colour-coded by network group (2012)

Only the reserves of the South-east network, Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and other former Commonwealth marine reserves as noted below are in effect since the commencement of the 2012 review process.

Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve

A single Commonwealth marine reserve that covers 989,842 km2 (382,180 sq mi), or all of the Coral Sea except for The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Only the former Coral Sea Conservation Zone, former Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve and former Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve are in effect.[9]

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Commonwealth Marine Reserve

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands are located in the southern Indian Ocean, approximately 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, Western Australia. The marine reserve covers an area of approximately 71,200 km2 (27,500 sq mi).[10]

Commonwealth marine reserve networks

There are 5 regions of Commonwealth marine reserve networks that contain 57 individual marine reserves.

North network

The North Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network contains 8 individual reserves covering 157,483 km2 (60,805 sq mi).[11]

  • Arafura
  • Arnhem
  • Gulf of Carpentaria
  • Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
  • Limmen
  • Oceanic Shoals
  • West Cape York
  • Wessel

North-west network

The North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network contains 13 individual reserves covering 335,437 km2 (129,513 sq mi).[12]

  • Argo-Rowley Terrace
  • Ashmore Reef
  • Carnarvon
  • Cartier Island
  • Dampier
  • Eighty Mile Beach
  • Gascoyne
  • Kimberley
  • Mermaid Reef
  • Montebello
  • Ningaloo
  • Roebuck
  • Shark Bay

Temperate East network

The Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network contains 8 individual reserves covering 383,352 km2 (148,013 sq mi).[13]

  • Central Eastern
  • Cod Grounds (former reserve is in effect)
  • Gifford
  • Hunter
  • Jervis
  • Lord Howe (former reserve is in effect)
  • Norfolk
  • Solitary Islands (former reserve is in effect)

South-east network

The South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network was declared in 2007[14] and contains 14 individual reserves covering 388,464 km2 (149,987 sq mi).[15]

South-west network

The South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network contains 14 individual reserves covering 508,605 km2 (196,373 sq mi).[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Summary of permitted activities only, see source for details[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Duffy, Connor (14 June 2012). "World's largest marine reserve network unveiled". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Australia creates world's largest marine reserve network". theguardian.com. Guardian News (Associated Press). 14 June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Siegel, Matt (14 June 2012). "Australia Plans World’s Largest Marine Reserve". nytimes.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Milman, Oliver (15 June 2012). "Does Australia's marine reserve plan justify the grand rhetoric?". theguardian.com. The Guardian News. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 "About the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Smail, Stephanie (6 September 2016). "Conservationists critical of plan to reduce Coral Sea marine park protection". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Voyer, Michelle; Kenchington, Richard (6 September 2017). "Government review supports Australia's marine reserves — now it is time to move on". theconversation.com (Australia). The Conversation Media Group Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  8. 1 2 "South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network - Zoning and activities". environment.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Location and boundaries". heardisland.antarctica.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "North Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  12. ↑ "North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. ↑ "Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  14. ↑ "Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review – Recommended zoning for Australia's network of Commonwealth marine reserves". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  15. ↑ "South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2017.

Further reading

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