« Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network
| Click on the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network map or select a reserve | |||
 | |||
Former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
The former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve has been included within the larger new Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Transitional management arrangements apply until a management plan for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network is in place.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for areas within former reserves:
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until new management plans come into effect in July 2014, there will be no changes to management arrangements for the area within the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve.
- Transitional arrangements involve NO CHANGE ON THE WATER for marine users.
- If you hold an existing approval to undertake activities within the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, you are able to continue to operate under the terms of your existing approval.
- No additional administrative requirements apply.
Summary of former reserve
| Original proclamation date | 23 December 1987, now included within the new Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 877 km2 |
| Types of zoning |
|
| Management plan status | Expired with declaration of new Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve Transitional arrangements apply |
The area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve is located in the Tasman Sea approximately 600 kilometres east of Coffs Harbour. The former reserve includes two separate reefs; Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef.
Elizabeth Reef is at latitude 29°56'S and longitude 159°05'E. Middleton Reef is at latitude 29°27'S and longitude 159°07'E. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, together with reefs around Lord Howe Island 150 kilometres to the south, are regarded as the southernmost coral reefs in the world. Their location, where tropical and temperate ocean currents meet, contributes to an unusually diverse assemblage of marine species.
Activities
The following table outlines activities allowed without permit or approval (
), allowed with a general approval in accordance with conditions (GA), allowed with a permit or approval (A) or not allowed (
) in the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve.
| Activity* | Elizabeth Reef (Former Habitat Protection Zone) |
Middleton Reef (Former Sanctuary Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| General Access | A | |
| Commercial Activities | ||
| Fishing (including collecting) | |
|
| Filming and Photography | A | A |
| Tourism and Charters# | A | A |
| Other Commercial Activities | A | A |
| Commercial vessel transit | GA | GA |
| Commercial fishing vessel entry | A | GA |
| Recreational Activities | ||
| Scuba diving & snorkelling | A | |
| Fishing# | A | |
| Scientific Research | A | A |
| * Removing artefacts from shipwrecks is not allowed in any part of the reserve. # Charter Fishing not allowed. Collecting not allowed. | ||
Transitional management arrangement
Transitional arrangements for the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Transitional arrangements for the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve will maintain the level of protection afforded to these areas by the previous reserve management arrangements.
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).
The 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. Below are the general approvals for the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve.
Approvals
General approvals - activities allowed under general approvals
Commercial vessel transit within the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Commercial vessel transit is allowed under general approval in the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. Commercial vessels must remain at least two nautical miles from the edge of Elizabeth Reef.
Commercial fishing vessel entry within the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Commercial fishing vessel entry into the Sanctuary Zone of the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve is allowed under general approval for commercial fishing operators holding a current fishing concession issued under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 or applicable NSW fisheries legislation authorising the operations in the Australian Fishing Zone.
Recreational (non-commercial) fishing within the area of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Recreational (non-commercial) fishing is allowed in the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve in the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone under general approval, where the activity is undertaken in accordance with a permit issued by the Director of National Parks.
No registration or application is required for those persons who held a permit issued by the Director of National Parks to enter the former Habitat Protection Zone immediately before the former Reserve was revoked. If you do not have an existing permit but wish to operate in the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone please contact the department.
Recreational (non-commercial) fishing is prohibited in the former Sanctuary Zone of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve.
- Recreational fishing - Approval of Non-Commercial Fishing (PDF - 347KB) | (Word - 948KB)
General access to the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone of the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
A permit or approval is required from the Director of National Parks for general access (except commercial vessel transit) in the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone.
No registration or application is required for those persons who held a permit issued by the Director of National Parks to enter the former Habitat Protection Zone immediately before the former Reserve was revoked.
If you do not have an existing permit but wish to access the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone please contact the department.
Any other activities
Recreational activities, including scuba diving and snorkelling, are allowed in the area of the Sanctuary Zone of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. Individual approval from the Director of National Parks is required to conduct recreational scuba diving in the area of the former Habitat Protection Zone.
Individual approval is also required for some activities in the Sanctuary Zone of former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. For example scientific research and commercial tourism within this area require authorisation from the Director of National Parks. For further information please contact the department.
Other approvals may also be required under Part 13 of the EPBC Act.
Removing artefacts from shipwrecks is not permitted in any part of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve.
Management plan
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.
Approvals
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 Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network.
Activities must be carried out in accordance to the conditions under the general approval.
Management plan
A management plan for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network has been developed in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This plan provides 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). The management plan for the Temperate East Network will come into effect on 1 July 2014.
Former management plan
The second management plan for the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve expired with the declaration of the new Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve which encompasses the area covered by the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. Transitional arrangements apply until a new management plan is in place for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network.
Maps
Click on map to view a larger image
Download reserve map
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