Commonwealth marine areas
The Commonwealth marine area is any part of the sea, including the waters, seabed, and airspace, within Australia's exclusive economic zone and/or over the continental shelf of Australia, that is not State or Northern Territory waters.
The Commonwealth marine area stretches from 3 to 200 nautical miles from the coast. Marine protected areas are marine areas which are recognised to have high conservation value.
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Protecting Commonwealth marine areas
Commonwealth marine areas are matters of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act.
An action will require approval if the:
- action is taken in a Commonwealth marine area and the action has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment or
- action is taken outside a Commonwealth marine area and the action has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment in a Commonwealth marine area
The action must be referred to the Minister and undergo an environmental assessment and approval process.
- Assessment and approval process
- Protected matters search tool — use the tool to find migratory species in your area of interest
- Significant impact guidelines — matters of national environmental significance
- Policy statement — Interaction between offshore seismic exploration and whales
- Permits for Commonwealth marine parks and reserves
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