CCG North Planning Region Report to Australia’s Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review

In reviewing the available data on the North Marine Reserve Network the Centre for Conservation Geography makes five key findings relating to a review of the zoning plans for the North Marine Reserves (the North Marine Reserve Network and its zoning was passed into law by the Abbott Government in December 2013[1]):

1. Marine National Park Zones:  Are critical to the protection of the North Marine Region’s marine life with the weight of scientific evidence showing that partially protected zones don’t deliver the broad ranging and significant benefits for marine life of highly protected zones. The Centre for Conservation Geography recommends expanding the number and size of Marine National Park Zones in the North Marine Reserve Network.
2. Social and economic impacts:  The information compiled by the Centre for Conservation Geography shows that the net social and economic value of the North Marine Reserve Network to the Australian community is upwards of $200 million. Within this positive impacts on nature based tourism, recreational fishing, Indigenous employment and regional employment are expected to outweigh any possible negative impacts on commercial fishing. Community support for the marine reserves is very strong with over 99% of the more than 10,000 submissions to the public consultation process supportive of increased protection for the North Marine Region. The zoning plan could be improved so as to enhance the positive social and economic impacts by providing increased protection to areas within, adjacent or near to Indigenous sea country and by extending the area protected from destructive fishing practices like pelagic gillnetting and longlining.
3. Destructive fishing practices:  The Government’s risk assessment process found five commercial fishing practices to be incompatible with the conservation values of the North Marine Reserve Network. The zoning plan should be adjusted to ensure that these five fishing practices are fully removed from the North Marine Reserve Network.
4. Seabed mining:  The North Marine Reserve Network leaves 97% of the North Marine Region open to seabed mining including high conservation locations like around Groote Eylandt and Limmen Bight. Australians do not want to see mining across such large swathes of our oceans. The zoning plan for the North Marine Reserve Network needs to play a more significant role in helping to find a better balance between mining and the other values of the ocean.
5. Unprotected habitats:  Major concerns exist within the scientific community about the low level of protection for the unique habitats of the shelf and upper slope environments of the North Marine Region. Habitats with low, or no protection within Marine National Park Zones include entire marine bioregions, as well as key ecological features and biologically important areas for iconic species like sea turtles and seabirds. The review should consider increasing the protection for these features.

Report: 

CCG North Planning Region Report March 2015

CCG North Planning Region report to Australia’s Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review in March 2015.