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New Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Overview
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 Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve covers an area of more than 110 000 km2 and encompasses the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) and the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. A management plan will be prepared for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network and will cover all eight new reserves.
- Former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
- Former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Transitional management arrangements apply until a management plan for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network is in place.
| Name | Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve |
|---|---|
| Area | 110 139 km2 |
| Depth range | <15-6000 m (approx.) |
| Types of zoning |
|
Major conservation values
- Biologically important areas for protected humpback whales and a number of migratory seabirds
- A major seabird breeding area, with 14 species found on the islands including masked boobys, grey ternlets, red-tailed tropic birds, black-winged petrels and Kermadec petrels
- Key location for the black cod
- Due to the convergence of warmer tropical and cooler temperate waters in the area of the reserve, many species found there are at the northern or southern extent of their range
- Examples of the ecosystems of the Lord Howe Province and the Tasman Basin Province provincial bioregions
- Represents seafloor features including: basin, plateau, saddle, seamount/guyot and deep ocean valley
- Includes three key ecological features:
- the Lord Howe seamount chain (high productivity; aggregations of marine life; biodiversity and endemism).
- Elizabeth and Middleton reefs (aggregations of marine life; biodiversity and endemism).
- Tasman Front and eddy field (high productivity; aggregations of marine life; biodiversity and endemism)
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 Lord Howe Island 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 Lord Howe Island 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 areas of former reserves:
- Former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
- Former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
Download reserve fact sheet
- Fact sheet - Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve (PDF - 57KB) | (Word - 358KB)
