6 Februar y 2015
waterfront
Commonwealth marine
reserves are areas
established under Australian
environment law to help
conserve the marine life in
the oceans off Australia.
Parks Australia manages
the Commonwealth-listed
marine reserves. The
reserves and the zones
within them are one of
the tools the Australian
government uses to
protect the oceans under
its protection. Others
include working with local
communities and industries
to continually improve how
our oceans are managed.
Commonwealth marine
reserves are situated in
Commonwealth waters.
These waters generally
extend from three nautical
miles off the coast to the
outer limit of Australia’s
exclusive economic zone (
nautical miles).
Marine reserves
closer in-shore are the
responsibility of the states
or the Northern Territory.
Marine reserves help
protect and maintain the
unique biodiversity including
endangered or threatened
species, such as whales and
marine turtles and their
habitats. Marine reserves
are intended to provide for
sustainable use, to keep our
oceans healthy.
They are also places for
families to enjoy boating and
diving and in some areas,
recreational fishing. While
not designed as a fisheries
management tool, marine
reserves can enhance
fisheries by ensuring places
such as breeding grounds
are protected. They also
provide opportunities for
research and a focal point
for education about
marine ecosystems.The creation and
effective management of
marine reserves is widely
regarded, both nationally
and internationally, as one
of the most effective ways
to maintain the long-term
health and productivity of
our oceans.
Commonwealth marine
reserves represent examples
of all the different marine
ecosystems and habitats
found in the oceans around
Australia. They protect
important habitats like coral
reefs, undersea canyons and
seamounts, and the diversity
of marine life they support.
The map pictured here
is on the Marine Reserve
website allowing users to
select the area they are
interested in and zoom in for
more detail.
Once a Commonwealth
marine reserve is
proclaimed, ParksAustralia has to develop a
management plan for the
reserve. Management plans
have a maximum life of ten
years and set out how the
reserves are to be managed
including what activities
are allowed and which
zones of the reserve they
are allowed in. Currently
there are no changes ‘on the
water’ for users of the 25
marine reserves until new
management plans come
into effect.
Commonwealth marine
reserves include a range of
different management zones
within which different
types of activities are or
will be permitted.
The work of the Australian
Bureau of Agricultural
and Resource Economics
and Sciences (ABARES)
on the social and economic
implications of each of the
regional marine reserves
network proposals played an
important role in the design
of the networks.
Written submissions to
the independent review of
Commonwealth Marine
Reserves close at the end of
this month (February).
The Review has established
five Bioregional Advisory
Panels (representing the
South-west, North-west,
North, Temperate East and
Coral Sea marine regions) to
facilitate consultation with
interested parties.
Details about making a
submission can be found on
the Join the Conversation
web page. The online
survey is expected to be
available soon.
The submission period
will remain open until 28
February 2015. The terms of
reference can be found on
the review website:
w w w.ma r i nereser vesrev iew.
gov.au.http://www.mysailing.com.auWhat are Australian Marine Reserves?
Australia has the world’s largest network of marine reserves
protecting over 3.1 million square kilometres of marine environment.