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Public consultation
Australia's Marine Bioregional Planning Program is improving the way our oceans are managed to help ensure that we can continue to use and enjoy them into the future. Marine bioregional plans are being prepared under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to improve the way decisions are made under national environmental law about the protection of marine biodiversity and the sustainable use of marine resources. New Commonwealth marine reserves (sometimes called marine protected areas or marine parks) are also being identified through the marine bioregional planning process as part of Australia's commitment to establish a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) by 2012.
Good information on our ocean habitats, wildlife and resources, and the people who use and enjoy them, is critical to marine bioregional planning. There are a number of steps when stakeholders are invited to provide information and feedback as part of the marine bioregional planning process. These steps are described in detail below.
Please note - a network of marine reserves was established in the South-east Marine Region in 2007. The boundaries and zones of the existing South-east marine reserve network will not change as part of the Marine Bioregional Planning Program.
Consultation steps
There are several steps in the marine bioregional planning process where industry, marine managers/regulators, the community and scientific experts are invited to contribute. These steps are as follows:
Bioregional Profiles
Bioregional Profiles were released for the South-west Marine Region in October 2007, the North-west and North Marine Regions in November 2008, and East Marine Region in May 2009. Bioregional Profiles for these marine regions were developed from a variety of information including scientific papers, commissioned reports, industry performance reporting, census data and expert advice. A large number of scientists, managers/regulators, industry representatives and other stakeholders were involved in the preparation of each bioregional profile through workshops, meetings, and targeted data-gathering projects.
- South-west Bioregional Profile
- North-west Bioregional Profile
- North Bioregional Profile
- East Bioregional Profile
Following the release of each bioregional profile, regional multi-stakeholder workshops and targeted sectoral meetings were held to provide further information on the marine bioregional planning process and to invite stakeholder feedback on the profiles. Stakeholders were also asked to identify new and/or additional information that should be taken into consideration in the development of the draft marine bioregional plans.
Public feedback on the bioregional profiles and additional information provided by scientists, Australian Government and state/territory government agencies and industry groups has provided the basis for the development of draft marine bioregional plans and the marine reserve network proposals for each marine region.
Areas for Further Assessment
The release of Areas for Further Assessment was a step in the marine bioregional planning process aimed at assisting the identification of new Commonwealth marine reserves. Areas for Further Assessment are not marine reserves. They were areas that were identified to aid detailed analysis of information and assist in the design of new marine reserves.
Extensive consultations on the Areas for Further Assessment occurred through meetings and targeted data-gathering projects. Detailed information collected through this phase of consultations is directly contributing to the process of designing marine reserve network proposals for each marine region. In particular, the information gathered is being used to help minimise any potential impacts of future marine reserves on people who use marine resources.
Areas for Further Assessment were released for consultation in the South-west Marine Region in May 2009, the North-west and North Marine Regions in November 2009 and the East Marine Region in March 2010.
- Areas for Further Assessment in the South-west Marine Region
- Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Region
- Areas for Further Assessment in the North Marine Region
- Areas for Further Assessment in the East Marine Region
Draft marine bioregional plans and Commonwealth marine reserves network proposals
Draft marine bioregional plans and Commonwealth marine reserves network proposals were released for consultation in 2011. Consultation on the draft marine bioregional plans and proposed Commonwealth marine reserves network proposals has now closed.
- South-west consultation documents
- North-west consultation documents
- North consultation documents
- Temperate East consultation documents
- Coral Sea consultation documents
The South-east Commonwealth marine reserve network was completed in 2007. A draft marine bioregional plan for the South-east is proposed to be released for public consultation in 2012.
Final marine bioregional plans and marine reserves network proposals
Information received through public submissions and stakeholder consultations, together with detailed socio-economic assessments will be considered by the government before it finalises the marine bioregional plans and marine reserve network proposals for each region.
Once final marine reserve network proposals have been released, there will be a separate process to formally establish the marine reserve networks under Australia's national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This is known as proclamation.
Proclamation of networks of new Commonwealth marine reserves
Following the release of the final marine reserve network for each region, the public will be invited to provide input to a process to establish the proposed networks of new Commonwealth marine reserves under national environmental law. This process will include formal statutory consultation of at least 60 days. Stakeholder feedback received during this consultation period will be considered before the Australian Government proclaims the marine reserve networks and they take effect.
Preparation of a marine reserves network management plan
After the marine reserves networks have been proclaimed, there will be two opportunities for stakeholders to provide input to the development of a management plan for each marine reserve network. Firstly, stakeholder feedback will be invited on a proposal to prepare a draft of a management plan for the marine reserve network. The statutory period for this consultation process is at least 30 days. Stakeholder feedback will then be invited on a draft of the marine reserve network management plan. The statutory period for this consultation process is also at least 30 days.
About marine bioregional planning
Marine bioregional planning is being implemented in five large marine regions.
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