• Change text size
• Skip to content

• About us
• Contact us

• Environment home
  • Atmosphere
  • Biodiversity
  • Coasts and marine
  • Heritage
  • Land
  • Parks and reserves
  • Human settlements
  • Water
  • EPBC Act
  • Arts and culture 

• Coasts and marine
  • Marine Bioregional Planning
  • Marine pollution
  • Marine protected areas
  • Fisheries and the environment
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • International activities
  • Marine species
  • Publications and resources

• Marine Bioregional Planning
  • About MBP
  • Getting involved
  • North
    • Bioregional profile
    • Getting involved
    • Resources

• North-west
  • Bioregional profile
  • Getting involved
  • Resources

• • South-east
    • Resources
  • South-west
    • Bioregional profile
    • Getting involved
    • Resources
  • East
    • Bioregional profile
    • Getting involved
    • Resources
  • IMCRA
    • National Marine Bioregionalisation
  • Publications & resources

Marine Bioregional Planning in the North-west

• Getting involved
• Public consultation
• Areas for Further Assessment
• Updates

Areas for Further Assessment

Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Marine Region

Description paper for Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Marine Region provides a broad overview of the seven Areas for Further Assessment identified for the development of a Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network in the North-west Marine Region.

Download

• High res (large file) - Description paper for Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Marine Region (PDF - 4547KB)
• Low res - Description paper for Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Marine Region (PDF - 620KB)
• Word file - Description paper for Areas for Further Assessment in the North-west Marine Region (Word - 1274KB)

What are Areas for Further Assessment?

Areas for Further Assessment are an important step in refining information on human uses and socio-economic values in the marine environment. They are large areas that encompass examples of the range of biodiversity and ecosystems within each Region and they are identified though assessment of information compiled using the Goals and Principles for the Establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas in Commonwealth Waters.

Areas for Further Assessment are not the proposed boundaries for new marine reserves. Instead, they are intended to aid further analysis of information at a more detailed scale and assist in the design of new marine reserves.

Based on ecological information and information obtained from key stakeholders on human activities within the areas for further assessment, the location and zoning arrangements of a new network of marine reserves will be developed. This process aims to ensure that conservation outcomes are maximised while socio-economic costs associated with establishing marine reserves are minimised.

Where are the Areas for Further Assessment in the North Marine Region?

Areas for Further Assessment have been identified in the North-west Marine Region (Map 2). These areas have been identified on the basis of an analysis of marine species and ecosystems and an initial assessment of human activities in Commonwealth waters. Stakeholders will be consulted to improve information on human activities within these areas, focusing on developing a thorough understanding of the potential socio-economic impacts of new marine reserves that may be established.

Map 2: Map of Areas for Further Assessment in the North-West Marine Region
from Marine Bioregional Planning - North-west Marine Region