Marine Protected Areas

South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network

Sea urchin - CSIRO

Sea urchin, CSIRO

Management responsibilities

While the States have primary responsibility for waters within three nautical miles of their coasts, the Australian Government has responsibility for water between the State limit and 200 nautical miles.

The reserves in the South-east Network have been declared under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). They are managed by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities under a delegation from the Australian Government Director of National Parks. The department has made arrangements with the State agencies to assist in managing the Reserve Network.

How are they managed?

The network of Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas in south-eastern Australia provides for some areas to be strictly protected with no extractive use and limited disturbance whilst others are managed resource use areas. These may include scientific study, recreational enjoyment and income generation through tourism and other sustainable uses such as mining and commercial fishing.

Prior to a formal management plan being developed, interim arrangements are in place to ensure that the objectives of the reserves are met. It is a legal requirement that users of the reserve abide by the interim management arrangements.

Interim management arrangements

The South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves were proclaimed by the Governor General on the 28th of June 2007 and will come into effect on the 3rd of September 2007. It is the responsibility of the Director of National Parks to ensure that, when they come into effect, the reserves are effectively managed. Management arrangements must enable activities in the reserves to continue in a manner that is consistent with the reserve and zone IUCN categories.

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), during the period between proclamation of the reserves and the implementation of a management plan, approval from the Director of National Parks is required to allow existing commercial activities and activities that involve the taking of native species (fishing), that are consistent with the IUCN categories of the zones of the reserves, to legally continue. This approval from the Director of National Parks is issued under section 359B of the EPBC Act. Approval can be given to both individuals and to classes of persons, and can be issued with or without conditions on the approved activity.

Accordingly, the Director has issued a number of different approvals for users of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves. These approvals which came into effect on 3 September 2007, are outlined below.

Apply for approval to conduct activities within South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves

Approval application and information

Recreational activities - Approval of Non-Commercial Fishing in a South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve

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Recreational 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 snorkelling, is allowed in all zones within the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network. No approval is required.

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 South-east Region Manager on (02) 62741111.

Management plan

A management plan for the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve network will be developed in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This plan will provide for the protection and conservation of each reserve by setting out how it will be managed, what activities will be allowed or prohibited and how this will be done. The interim management arrangements will remain in place until a management plan comes into effect.

The management plan will address key aspects of management over the life of the plan (10 years).

The development of the management plan will involve a period of public consultation in which all stakeholders will have the opportunity to have their say about the draft plan. It is anticipated that the draft will be released for consultation in late 2011.

Also in this section

Existing Commonwealth reserves under the EPBC Act

Marine Protected Areas

Temperate East Marine Region

Coral Sea

North-west Marine Region

South-east Marine Region

South-west Marine Region