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6. Marine conservation and marine protected areas - continued

Major, multiple-use marine protected areas around Australia

Torres Strait Protected Zone(74)

Torres Strait is a 150 km wide, shallow passage between Cape York and Papua New Guinea. It contains many reefs, over 100 islands and cays, and has a population of 6,300 Torres Strait Islanders. It has major populations of dugongs and turtles. The Torres Strait Treaty with Papua New Guinea protects the marine environment, provides access for vessels, and allocates fisheries and mineral resources. A marine conservation strategy is being prepared under the Ocean Rescue 2000 program.

Major uses: shipping; prawn and rock lobster fisheries.

Major environmental issues: possible heavy metals contamination from Papua New Guinea mines; threats of oils spills from shipping; offshore oil in Papua New Guinea; effects of prawn trawling.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP)(69)

The GBRMP is the world's largest reef complex, the largest multiple-use MPA and a World Heritage Site. It is 2,500 km long and comprises 2,900 separate reefs and 940 islands. It was established under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and is managed by the Commonwealth GBRMP Authority, with the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage responsible for day-to-day management.

Major uses: tourism (2 million visitors to GBR and coast each year); commercial and recreational fisheries; shipping. Economic value over $1 billion per annum.

Major environmental issues: water quality (especially elevated nutrients) in inshore areas; outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish; effects of trawling on sea floor biota; effects of fishing on reefs; threat of oil spills from shipping; effects of tourism.

The Ningaloo Marine Park(70)

Australia's longest fringing reef and the third largest MPA, Ningaloo Marine Park was established in 1987 in State and Commonwealth waters. It extends along 260 km of coast and has an area of 4,572 square km. Ningaloo is an ecologically unique mainland fringing coral reef and contains significant populations of dugongs, humpback whales, shore birds, turtles, and whale sharks. Ningaloo Marine Park is managed by the WA Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Major uses: tourism and recreational fishing.

Major environmental issues: outbreaks of coral-eating Drupella snails; increasing tourism; risk of pollution from oil production outside the marine park and from shipping.

Shark Bay Marine Park and Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve(84)

Shark Bay Marine Park (7,487 sq km) and the adjacent Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve (1,320 sq km) were gazetted in 1990. The seagrass meadows and the calcareous sand banks of Shark Bay are amongst the world's most extensive. Shark Bay Marine Park contains the most southerly resident populations of dugongs and green turtles, the internationally famous bottlenose dolphins of Monkey Mia, and important nursery areas for several valuable recreational and commercial fisheries. The Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve includes unique stromatolites and Holocene coquina deposits. Together with equally significant terrestrial features, the area is now included in the World Heritage.

Major uses: commercial and recreational fishing; tourism (mainly at Monkey Mia and Hamelin Pool, but general nature-based tourism is increasing).

Major environmental issues: no major threats but will require management of fisheries (including aquaculture) and tourism. The major long-term issue is protection of unique stromatolites and seagrass.

Solitary Islands Marine Reserve(71)

A unique area of tropical/temperate overlap which includes coral communities, mangroves, rock platforms and rocky reefs. The Reserve extends along 70 km of coast north of Coffs Harbour and has an area of 950 square kilometres. It includes State and Commonwealth waters and is managed by NSW Department of Fisheries and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA).

Major uses: commercial and recreational fishing; tourism (diving and water sports).

Major environmental issues: alteration of catchments and eutrophication of estuaries; recreational fisheries; tourism development.

Jervis Bay National Park(72)

A relatively pristine bay with diverse estuaries, dunes, seagrass beds, sand flats, and rock platforms and reefs. The land area in the Park is 6,312 ha and the marine area is 840 ha. It is part of the Commonwealth's Jervis Bay Territory and is managed by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. NSW Fisheries is currently preparing a management plan for the remainder (93%) of the bay.

Major uses: commercial and recreational fisheries; recreation and tourism; naval activities; scientific research; educational activities.

Major environmental issues: Aboriginal fishing rights; effects of shipping; nutrients from discharges and run-off; tourism and recreational use.

Australian National Nature Reserves (managed by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency)

(1) Coringa-Herald and Lihou National Nature Reserves(73)

Rich and diverse Coral Sea reefs; cays; important seabird nesting sites (27 & 24 spp resp.). Areas: 8, 856 sq km and 8,436 sq km (resp.). Part of Commonwealth Coral Sea Islands External Territory; managing authority ANCA.

Major environmental issues: foreign fishing vessels (fish and clams); seaborne pollution.

(2) Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve(73)

Rich and diverse Timor Sea coral reefs with high degree of endemism, especially sea snakes. Sand cays important seabird breeding and roosting sites for migratory shore birds. Area: 583 sq km. Part of Commonwealth External Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands. Managing authority ANCA.

Major uses: fisheries (by Indonesia).

Major environmental issues: taking of seabirds and turtles; possible overfishing; risk of oil spills.

(3) Elizabeth and Middleton National Nature Reserve(73)

The southern-most coral reefs in the world; important feeding grounds for turtles and seabirds and refuge for black cod. Many shipwrecks. Area: 1,880 sq km. Managing authority ANCA.

Major uses: recreational fishing.

Major environmental issues: crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks; overfishing.

(4) Mermaid Reef National Nature Reserve and Rowley Shoals Marine Park(73)

These are unique off-shore shelf atolls with a high degree of endemism. The former is a Commonwealth Nature Reserve (area: 540 sq km; managed by ANCA) and the latter is a Western Australian Marine Park (area: 232.5 sq km; managed by CALM).

Australian Antarctic Territory(75)

The Antarctic is uniquely managed through international treaties and conventions. Australia has a leading international role in research and environmental management. The region is one of the least polluted places on earth and is the last great wilderness.

Major uses: fishing; scientific research.

Major environmental issues: past overhunting of the great whales and changes in food chains; global pollution effects; tourism; localised pollution from research stations.

Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Island(84)

This remote group of islands lying close together in the southern Indian Ocean features essentially undisturbed ecosystems, dramatic glaciated landscapes and Australia's only active volcano, Big Ben. It is a Commonwealth external territory managed by the Australian Antarctic Division.

Major uses: scientific research.

Major environmental issues: maintenance of an undisturbed environment and preventing introductions of non-indigenous species.