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This Strategy Aims to Protect Coastal Waters through Partnerships with Shipping Industries

The ability of Australia and New Zealand to protect coastal and offshore waters from shipping pollution has been strengthened with the June 1996 release of a joint government strategy.

Entitled Working Together to Reduce Impacts from Shipping Operations: ANZECC Strategy to Protect the Marine Environment, the strategy pulls together a number of initiatives developed by ANZECC's Standing Committee on Environmental Protection.

These initiatives promote:

• improved port waste reception facilities;
• better management of marine debris and ballast and hull transfers;
• communicating better with shipping about environmentally sensitive operations;
• more benign anti-foulants; and
• education and outreach programs.

Three national surveys completed during 1996, provide important baselines for evaluating future improved performance and management on waste reception facilities at ports, boat harbours and marinas and marine debris research and management strategies.

What is the strategy's objective?

This national Strategy aims to enhance the protection of the marine environment through promoting best practice to improve waste management and to reduce pollution from shipping, and to communicate effectively with shipping about environmental values.

Its Action Plan covers 12 issues:

1. communicating about areas sensitive to shipping and boating operations;
2. managing contaminated ballast and hull transfers;
3. improving port waste reception facilities;
4. improving anti-fouling practices;
5. managing marine debris;
6. involving the community;
7. promoting education and outreach programs;
8. promoting targeted and resourced research;
9. developing industry action;
10. contributing to IMO and other international activities;
11. promoting improved shipping standards; and
12. promoting use of environmental impact assessment.

How is the strategy implemented?

• The ANZECC Standing Committee on Environmental Protection (SCEP) established a Marine Accidents and Pollution Implementation Group in May 1994. This group finalised the Strategy and Action Plan during 1995 and 1996. It now oversights the implementation of the Strategy's 12 Objectives through the 55 Actions of the Action Plan.
  • Members of the Implementation Group include all State and Northern Territory Environment Agencies, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Royal Australian Navy Hydrographer, CSIRO Fisheries and Oceanography, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and several members of the ANZECC Standing Committee on Conservation (SCC).
  • Contact details for Implementation Group members follow.
• Specific issues of the Strategy are progressed either by a number of working groups, which include government agencies, industry and non-government representatives, or lead agencies (see below).
  • The following issues are being progressed by the following lead agencies:
    • education and outreach program (Environment Protection Group)
    • regional workshop (Environment Protection Group)
    • promoting industry initiatives (various, including Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Environment Protection Group)
    • ballast management (Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service).

Publications, reports and registers - What are they? How can I get them?

1. Working Together to Reduce Impacts from Shipping Operations: ANZECC Strategy to Protect the Marine Environment (June 1996), 3 volumes
2. Working Together to Reduce Impacts from Shipping Operations: ANZECC Strategy to Protect the Marine Environment - Fact Sheet.
3. Best Practice Guidelines for Waste Reception Facilities at Ports, Marinas and Boat Harbours in Australia and New Zealand, 1997
4. Report on Survey of Waste Reception Facilities, May 1996. ANZECC Working Group on Waste Management from Shipping and Boating.
   • This report evaluates waste reception facilities in Australia for shipping and boating.
5. Stage 2 Report, ANZECC Working Group on Waste Management from Shipping and Boating: Best Practice Guidelines
   • Based on the survey at 1, the Australian Marine Safety Authority (AMSA) has produced information on waste reception facilities in Australian ports for international and Australian shipping. The next edition will include information about facilities in New Zealand.
6. The Australian Marine Debris Status Review, May 1996: ANZECC Working Party on Marine Debris, Stage 1 Report.
7. Review of Legislation, Management Strategies and Practices, November 1996; ANZECC Working Party on Marine Debris, Stage 2 Report.
   • This Review is aimed at developing and improving management strategies to reduce marine debris and setting future reduction targets. It also contains methodology which could be used by groups interested in conducting marine debris surveys.

Future publications will include a register of information resources (education and information materials, which comprise videos, brochures, games and posters), and information on new antifoulants.

More information?

For

• general information about the program;
• information about the Working Group on Waste Management from Shipping and Boating;
• information about the port waste reception facilities project; and
• information about the marine debris project

Please contact

Pauline Semple,
Chair, ANZECC Maritime Accidents and Pollution Implementation Group,
Queensland Department of Environment,
PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert Street,
Qld, 4002,
fax: (07) 3225 2660

Information about the 'communicating with shipping about environmental values' project is available from Paul Vogel.

See also

• More about dumping in Australian seas