Australian Marine Parks Network
⸻ Representations and Impacts on
Commercial and Recreational Activities
Simon Lin, Micaela Mardones,
Rai Ayu Saraswati, Hayley Sims, Sam Tacey
Content
• Brief Introduction
• Science Perspective (representations)
• Impacts on Commercial Activities
• Impacts on Recreational Activities
• Conclusion
• Q&A and discussion
2,834,031 km2
nearly 35%
area of
Australia EZZ
area
(Exclusive
Economic
Zone)
Brief Introduction ⸺ History
2012 2017
revealed plans to create the
58 Commonwealth Marine
world‘s largest marine reserve
Reserves managed by Parks
network (27 → 60, 3,100,000 km2)
Australia were renamed as
2007 'Marine Parks'
established a series of large
marine parks in Australia's
south-east
2012-2014
1998 Suspension, met with criticism 2014
Great Australian Bight by opposition, environment A review of the 40 Commonwealth
Marine Park groups, scientist, commercial Marine Reserves
(included in the world’s and recreational fishers.
first Oceans Policy)
The Role of Science in CMRs
Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation
of Australia (IMCRA)
- IMCRA (1998) → Inshore biophysic
- IMCRA (2006) → Offshore biophysic
Marine Bioregional Marine Program
(2006-2012)
- Undertaken for Commonwealth Waters
- To inform the identification of potential CMRs
Expert Scientific Panel (2015)
- Review the proposed Marine Park Network
- Recommend future research and monitoring
priorities
- Assess the gap knowledge/information to the
reserves network
Bioregional Advisory Panel (2015)
Beeton et al., 2015
Expert Scientific Panel Outcomes CONSERVATION
● Small overall increases in:
1% (MPNZ)
○ No-take area
(HPZs expansion) ○ Marine National Parks
10% (MPNZ) (except in coral sea
(HPZ expansion) network)
0.6% (NTA) ● Increase in Habitat
13% (HPZ)
Protected Zones
SOCIAL-ECONOMIC
● Reduce the impact of
commercial and
recreational fishing
● Reduce the availability of
2% (NTA) mining and oil & gas
1% (NTA)
45% (HPZ) exploration
(HPZs expansion) ● Opportunities to co-
management with local
indigenious (Native title)
https://atlas.parksaustralia.gov.au/amps/ Buxton & Cochrane, 2015
The Current View
The Federal Government released a New Draft Management Plans
“National Park Zones” with full conservation protection 16% area decrease (from 36% to 20%)
“Habitat Protection Zones” where fishing is allowed as long as the seafloor 19% area increase (from 24% to 43%)
is not harmed
“Special Purpose Zones” that allow for specific commercial activities. -
The Second Largest Network of Marine Parks
In The World…
…Is responsible for an
increase in total area of
reserves open to fishing
from 64% to 80%
It also allows for 97% of
the waters within 100km
from the coast to be
subjected to recreational
fishing
https://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/pub/maps/National-Full-zoning-incl-SE.pdf Meeuwig & Booth, 2017
Recreational Activities
Scope of term
- Scuba-diving
- Snorkelling
- Boating
- Recreational Fishing (including spear-
fishing)
Positive Impacts
A wider range of areas, as well as an
increase in total area in which recreational
activities can be undertaken
Buxton & Cochrane, 2015
Recreational Activities
Negative Impacts
- Increased protection of seafloor limits the
activities that can be carried out in some
areas
- Increase in area allowed to recreationally
fish reinforces false sense of protection
held by frequent fishers
- Lengthy implementation and review
process contributed to an overall
impression of uncertainty within the
industry
Buxton & Cochrane, 2015
Commercial Fishing
Negative Impacts
- Displacement (uneven)
Catch - Commonwealth Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery
GVP - Western Australian West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery
GVP - Mooloolaba in Queensland then Geraldton in WA
- Increased fuel consumption to new grounds
- New fishing grounds have to be explored
- Competition for resources may increase
- Uncertainty
- Estimated economic impact at 0.3%.
- Less than 2% of commercial fisheries catches
will be affected
Larcombe and Marton, 2016
Commercial Fishing
Positive Impacts
Spill-over – extra fish stock on the boundary
Long term - protection against overfishing
Habitat protection - rebuild fish stocks
Other commercial activities mildly impacted - EG Mining, Aquaculture and Tourism
Our Recommendations
1. Always based on scientific but not politics (although it will be related to politics)
2. Regular inspections and evaluations are necessary (Reports)
3. Cooperate with other government department (MFRs management)
4. Cooperate with other countries or organizations (International waters)
5. Communications between fisheries and scientists
References
Rick D Stuart-Smith, Daniela Ceccarelli, Graham J Edgar, Antonia T Cooper. Report to Parks Australia, Department of the Environment, 2017.
Devillers, R., Pressey, R. L., Grech, A., Kittinger, J. N., Edgar, G. J., Ward, T., & Watson, R. (2015). Reinventing residual reserves in the sea: are we favouring ease
of establishment over need for protection?. Aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 25(4), 480-504.
Moore, C. H., Radford, B. T., Possingham, H. P., Heyward, A. J., Stewart, R. R., Watts, M. E., ... & Bryce, C. W. (2016). Improving spatial prioritisation for remote
marine regions: optimising biodiversity conservation and sustainable development trade-offs. Scientific reports, 6, 32029.
https://theconversation.com/opposition-keen-to-stop-marine-parks-but-will-fishers-benefit-14955
https://theconversation.com/most-recreational-fishers-in-australia-support-marine-sanctuaries-112960
https://theconversation.com/our-new-marine-https://theconversation.com/australias-new-marine-parks-plan-is-a-case-of-the-emperors-new-clothes-81391parks-the
-unanswer
ed-questions-8087
https://theconversation.com/more-than-1-200-scientists-urge-rethink-on-australias-marine-park-plans-84366
Beeton, R. J., Buxton, C. D., Cochrane, P., Dittmann, S., & Pepperell., J. G. (2015). Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review: Report of the Expert Scientific Pane
l. Canberra, Australia
.
Buxton and Cochrane. (2015). Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review: Report of the Bioregional Advisory Panel. Canberra, Australia.
Larcombe, J., and N. Marton. Potential displacement of commercial fisheries by a Commonwealth marine reserve zoning scheme: Report on Panel-recommended
network. ABARES technical report to client prepared for the Department of the Environment. Canberra, 2016
Thank you
