Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
Activity management
The following table outlines activities allowed without approval (
), allowed with approval (A) or general approval (GA), or not allowed (
) in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park.
| Activity | Marine Mammal Protection Zone (MMPZ) | Benthic Protection Zone (BPZ) |
|---|---|---|
| General Access | ||
| Non-commercial Vessel Access | * |
# |
| Aircraft Access (conditions apply if cetaceans present) | |
|
| Commercial Activities | ||
| Fishing (including collecting. Demersal Trawl is not allowed) | * (GA) |
#(GA) |
| Filming and Photography | A* | A# |
| Tourism and Charters | A* | A# |
| Mining^ - including seismic survey | |
A |
| Other Commercial Activities | A* | A# |
| Vessel transit | * (GA) |
#(GA) |
| Recreational Activities | ||
| Scuba diving & snorkelling | * |
# |
| Fishing (including collecting) | *GA |
#GA |
| Scientific research | A | A |
* not allowed 01 May - 31 Oct GA - General approval with conditions applies - note - individual registration or approvals are not required for general approvals. A - Individual approval with conditions applies |
||
General approvals - activities allowed under general approvals
Note: the Marine Mammal Protection Zone is closed to all access from 1 May to 31 October inclusive each year under the EPBC Regulations.
Commercial fishing activities within the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
About this approval
Commercial fishing is allowed under general approval from the Director of National Parks for commercial fishing operators holding a current fishing concession issued under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 or applicable South Australian fisheries legislation authorising the operations in the area of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park, where the activity is consistent with the IUCN reserve management category and management principles for the marine park.
No registration or application for approval is required.
- Approval of Commercial Fishing in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) (PDF - 1528KB) | (Word - 112KB)
Recreational (non-commercial) fishing activities in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
About this approval
Recreational (non-commercial) fishing is allowed under general approval from the Director of National Parks, where the activity is consistent with the IUCN reserve management category and management principles for the zone, and provided that there is adherence to relevant State recreational fishing arrangements. No registration or application is required.
Other recreational activities, including scuba diving and snorkeling, are allowed in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).
No application for approval is required.
- Approval of Non-Commercial Fishing in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) (PDF - 614KB) | (Word - 428KB)
Commercial vessel transit activities within the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
About this approval
Commercial vessel transit is allowed under general approval from the Director of National Parks in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).
No registration or application for approval is required.
- Approval of Commercial Vessel Transit in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) (PDF - 643KB) | (Word - 423KB)
Activities requiring individual approval
Scientific research activities
An approval or permit is required depending on activities to be undertaken. For further information about scientific research approvals and permits please contact the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Operations Section on (02) 62741111. Other approvals may also be required under Part 13 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). See also listed species and ecological community permits.
Commercial tourism activities
Individual approval from the Director of National Parks is required to conduct commercial tourism activities in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters). Each application will be assessed on a case by case basis. The transit of commercial tourism vessels will be allowed under general approval. For further information about approvals please contact the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Operations Section on (02) 62741111.
Mining activities within the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
Approval application and information
Individual approval from the Director of National Parks is required to conduct any mining activities (except for vessel transit operations) in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).
Consideration of proposed mining operations will take into account the likely impact of the operation on the specific conservation values of the marine park and whether it is consistent with the Australian IUCN Reserve Management Principles (set out in the EPBC Regulations) for the IUCN category to which the reserve or zone of the reserve is assigned (by the reserve Proclamation).
A proposed mining operation may also be subject to the referral, assessment and approval provisions of Chapter 4 of the EPBC Act (Environment assessment process) where it is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance or another matter protected by Chapter 2 of the Act.
Read more about the EPBC environment assessment process: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments
Each mining operations application will be assessed on a case by case basis and where appropriate will be approved under section 359B.
For further information about mining approvals please contact the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Operations Section on (02) 62741111.
See also
Also in this section
Existing Commonwealth reserves under the EPBC Act
Marine protected areas
Temperate East Marine Region
- Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
- Solitary Islands Marine Reserve (Commonwealth Waters)
- Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
- Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Coral Sea
- Coral Sea Conservation Zone
- Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve
- Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve
North-west Marine Region
- Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
and
Cartier Island Marine Reserve - Mermaid Reef Marine National Nature Reserve
- Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)