Coral Sea
Have your say on the Coral Sea
A Commonwealth marine reserve proposal for the Coral Sea region has been released for public comment for a period of 90 days. Anyone with an interest in this proposal is invited to make a submission.
The consultation period will conclude on 24 February 2012.
Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal
The proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve and all other new Commonwealth marine reserves will be located in Commonwealth waters, which start beyond the limits of state/ territory waters (ie. usually 3 nautical miles from the coast) and extend to the outer limits of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve starts on the eastern side of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
For the purposes of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve proposal, the following provides further detail on the type of dropline that would be considered compatible with Multiple Use Zones.
Dropline that would be compatible with Multiple Use Zones would be a dropline that is:
- A line that is vertically set or suspended in the water column
- With no more than a single anchor point in contact with the seabed or substrate; and
- Not operated with or as a trotline.
Download the reserve proposal and associated documents
Detailed information on the Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal is provided in the documents listed below.
- Proposal for the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Consultation paper (PDF - 2789KB) | HTML
- Proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Draft for comment overview (PDF - 3635 KB) | (Word - 3635 KB)
- Detailed analysis of the proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve (PDF - 6.2 MB) | (Word - 9.3 MB)
- Commercial fishing - Socio-economic assessment of proposed Commonwealth marine reserves (PDF - 150KB) | (Word - 524KB)
Conservation Values Atlas
A Conservation Values Atlas has been developed to support the proposal for a Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve.
The Conservation Values Atlas is an interactive web-based tool made up of maps and other data that show the location and area of important marine habitats, ecological features, known breeding and feeding areas for protected species and other conservation values within the Coral Sea region.
Public information sessions
Public information sessions will be held in a number of locations in the region during the public consultation period. These sessions will be used to share information, answer questions and explain the process for providing feedback on the proposed marine reserve.
Invitations to the information sessions will be sent to relevant industry sector representatives and local organisations, however, anyone with an interest in Commonwealth marine bioregional planning and its outcomes is encouraged to attend these information sessions.
Indicative dates and times for information sessions in Queensland are provided below. Departmental staff will be there during these hours. You are welcome to stop by at any time to get details of the marine reserve proposal and to ask questions.
| Town | When | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hervey Bay | Monday 5 December |
Peppers Pier Resort The Esplanade, Urangan, Hervey Bay | 4pm - 7pm |
| Cairns | Thursday 8 December |
The Sebel Cairns 17 Abbott Street, Cairns | 4pm - 7pm |
| Gladstone | Monday 12 December |
Gladstone Entertainment Centre 58 Goondoon Street, Gladstone | 4pm - 7pm |
| Mackay | Tuesday 13 December |
Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour | 4pm - 7pm |
| Townsville | Friday 16 December |
Hotel IBIS Townsville 12-14 Palmer Street, Townsville | 3pm - 6pm |
This page will be updated regularly as details regarding the information sessions are confirmed.
In addition to the information sessions, the department will meet with individuals and organisations to discuss specific issues relating to the marine reserve proposal.
Find out more
For more information on the consultation process please contact:
Email: East.MarinePlan@environment.gov.au
Phone: 1800 069 352
How to make a submission
Have your say on the Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal
1. Read the draft documents and background information
2. Making a submission
There are three ways to provide feedback on the Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal:
- Complete your submission online
Please note that the online submission system does not enable you to save a copy of your feedback prior to sending it. If you wish to save a copy of your submission, please consider sending it via email or post. - Download a submission form (Word - 157 KB) and email it with any additional information to Submissions.CoralSea@environment.gov.au
- Print a submission form (PDF - 139 KB) and post it with any additional information free of charge to:
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
MBP submissions - Coral Sea
Reply Paid 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Submissions must be received electronically by the department (email or online form) no later than 24 February 2012 or be postmarked by 24 February 2012 if being submitted through the mail.
All comments will be treated as public documents and may be made public (along with your name/organisation) on the department's website (unless a request for confidentiality has been received and agreed to).
Public consultation
Coral Sea
Submissions are invited on the Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal. Comments close 24 February 2012
Information for media
About marine bioregional planning
Marine bioregional planning is being implemented in five large marine regions.
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