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Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Management
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until management plans come into effect in July 2014, transitional arrangements apply.
- Under the transitional arrangements, there are NO CHANGES ON THE WATER for users of new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserves estate.
- NOTE: There are no changes to management arrangements in the marine reserves that existed prior to the establishment of the new reserves, that is, the same restrictions on activities will continue to apply even where those reserves have been incorporated into new reserves.
The new Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve covers an area of more than 45 000 km2 and encompasses the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters). A management plan will be prepared for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network and will cover all 14 new reserves.
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), any activity in a marine reserve requires approval from the Director of National Parks in the period between proclamation of the reserves and the implementation of a management plan. This applies to existing commercial activities, including those that involve the taking of native species (fishing). 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.
Transitional arrangements - approvals and determinations
General approval
The Director of National Parks has issued a general approval for all new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate in the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network. Separate approvals have been issued for the area within the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).
The general approval for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network provides for the following activities to continue while a management plan is prepared:
- Commercial fishing
- Non-commercial fishing
- Commercial tourism
- Mining operations
- Commercial vessel transit (being continuous passage of a vessel through an area by the shortest direct route without any other activity being carried on)
- Aquaculture
- Commercial media activities
- Commercial image capture
- Erecting structures, carrying out works and carrying on an excavation.
Activities must be carried out in accordance to the conditions under the general approval. For further information please contact the department.
Transitional arrangements - approvals and determinations for the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for areas within former marine reserves
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until new management plans comes into effect in July 2014, there will be no changes to management arrangements for the area within the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).
- Transitional arrangements involve NO CHANGE ON THE WATER for marine users.
- If you hold an existing approval to undertake activities within the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters), you are able to continue to operate under the terms of your existing approval.
- No additional administrative requirements apply.
Information on transitional arrangements for area of the former reserve:
Management Plans
A management plan for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network is being developed in accordance with the 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 management plan will address key aspects of management over the life of the plan (10 years).
Find out more
Transitional management arrangements apply until a management plan for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network is in place.
Former Management Plans
The management plan for the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) has now expired and transitional management arrangements apply until a management plan is in place for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network.
Contact
Commonwealth Marine Reserves Branch
Parks Australia
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Edgar Waite Building
203 Channel Highway
Kingston TAS 7050
or
Email: marinereserves@environment.gov.au
Phone: 1800 069 352