Afant News

AFANT Email InDepth #10 - COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT INTENTION TO ESTABLISH NO-FISHING ZONES OFF THE NT COAST

AFANT Email InDepth #10
27 October 2009

COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT INTENTION TO ESTABLISH NO-FISHING ZONES OFF THE NT COAST

We have been advising AFANT members for a number of years about the Commonwealth Government’s Marine Bioregional Planning process. Until now it has been very much a stop-start affair but it appears that Environment Minister Peter Garrettt now has his foot on the accelerator and is looking to have the process for Commonwealth waters off our coast finalised by the middle of next year. (Commonwealth waters are usually those outside three nautical miles from the coastline.)

I’ve copied an information sheet describing the process below and, on first glance, it looks reasonable but there is a very significant problem hidden away in the detail. That is the statement that – “While most of each new marine reserve will be zoned to allow many uses and activities to continue, highly protected zones will also be identified within each new marine reserve.” What this really means is that there will be zones in each new reserve where recreational fishing is prohibited.

No credible scientific evidence has been offered to show why no-fishing zones are necessary here and there has not even been any assessment to determine if recreational fishing poses a risk to marine biodiversity in our waters. The process completely ignores the success of NT recreational fishers and successive NT governments in implementing fisheries and environmental policies and legislation which has ensured that our fish stocks, marine habitats and marine biodiversity are near to pristine. Ironically, the biggest threats to marine habitats and biodiversity in our waters are oil and gas well blow outs and bottom trawling for prawns and both these activities are under the control of the Commonwealth Government — the same government that wants to lock us out of offshore fishing areas. Perhaps Minister Garrett should be concentrating on making a real difference with these issues which are clear and present threats rather than supporting an illogical lock out of recreational fishers.

Another point that those pushing the no-fishing zones won’t acknowledge is that, for every productive recreational fishing area that is locked away, there will be increased effort in remaining fishing areas with possible consequences for the fish stocks and environment in those areas. AFANT’s policy of maintaining access to the greatest possible area for recreational fishing is firmly based on the principle of minimising localised fishing impacts by spreading effort as widely as possible

In keeping with our long-standing policy on this issue, AFANT will be doing all it can to oppose the introduction of these no-fishing zones. We believe that such zones should not be established in waters that are actually accessed by recreational fishers unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the impact of fishers in that area is or will be damaging to particular elements of biodiversity and/or features or natural processes that are not represented in other marine areas and that lesser limitations on recreational fishing are unlikely to provide the required level of protection.

NT Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis has already publicly indicated that the NT Government is also opposed to the introduction of recreational no-fishing zones in Commonwealth waters and has given us a commitment that they will not be established in NT waters. We are grateful for the support of the Minister on this very important issue.

Another point to consider is that, once no-fishing zones are established, it is extremely unlikely that we will ever get the restrictions lifted. Areas locked up in this process will be lost forever! It is therefore very important that, when looking at areas that we need to ensure remain open to recreational fishing, we not only consider those places we fish now but that we also look at where we will be fishing in 10 years time, where our kids will be fishing in 20 years time and where our grandkids will be fishing in 50 years time

I’ve attached a map showing the general “areas for further assessment” in the North Region where the Commonwealth is considering establishing Marine Protected Areas and, subsequently, no-fishing zones. Please let me know the locations in these areas that you consider important to recreational fishing now and also those locations that you think will be significant in the future. I need as much detail as possible to try to ensure we don’t end up like recreational fishers in Queensland and NSW with many of their most productive fishing areas locked away. I will not use any information you give me other than for this purpose nor will I pass it to others.

The following is the information provided by the Commonwealth:

Marine Bioregional Planning
North Marine Region

What is marine bioregional planning?
Australia’s marine bioregional planning program is designed to provide a clearer focus on conservation and sustainable management of Australia’s marine environment. It is a process that is underpinned by the principles of ecologically sustainable development and it takes an ecosystem approach in managing Australia’s marine biodiversity and environment.
Marine bioregional planning is currently being implemented in five marine bioregional planning regions - the South-west, North-west, North, East and South-east Marine Regions (Map 1).
Map 1: Marine Bioregional Planning Regions

Where is the North marine region?
The North marine region covers more than 715,000 square kilometres of ocean covering the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea as far west as the Northern Territory – Western Australian border.
The Region is characterised by very shallow-water tropical marine ecosystems with water depths generally less than 70 metres. From a global perspective, the region is part of a vast species-rich belt of waters stretching from the western Pacific to the East coast of Africa. Endemism is not particularly high by Australian standards, however like the North-west, the North marine region is home to globally significant populations of internationally threatened species.

What does marine bioregional planning involve?
The marine bioregional planning process focuses primarily on Commonwealth waters (the area of Australian jurisdiction that extends past state/Northern Territory waters from around 3 nautical miles to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone some 200 nautical miles from the shore).
Marine Bioregional Plans are being developed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and will fulfil the Australian Government’s commitment to establishing a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas as agreed by all Australian governments in 1998.
There are two major parts to the marine bioregional planning process: regional assessment and implementation of Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.
Regional assessment involves identification of the conservation values of each Marine Region, analysis of the threats to those values, and identification of measures required to protect those values and facilitate decision-making under the EPBC Act.
Regional networks of new representative marine reserves will also be identified through the marine bioregional planning process. These regional networks will become part of Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA).
The marine bioregional planning process involves three key steps: preparation of a Bioregional Profile, development of a draft Marine Bioregional Plan, and completion of a final Marine Bioregional Plan.
The Bioregional Profiles describe the ecological and biophysical features and the conservation values of each Region and outline human activities that occur within each Region. The Goals and Principles that guide the identification of new marine reserves are also described. Bioregional Profiles have been released for the East, North, North-west and South-west Marine Regions.
Draft Marine Bioregional Plans are currently being developed for each Marine Region. Each draft Plan will outline a draft network of proposed marine reserves and identify regional priorities and conservation measures. A minimum 60 day consultation period will follow the public release of the draft Plans.
The final Marine Bioregional Plans will provide information on the conservation values and the current and emerging pressures within each region. The Plans will describe key conservation and heritage priorities and the range of legislative and administrative tools available to the Government to manage them. The proposed network of new marine reserves and their zoning arrangements will also be presented. All Marine Bioregional Plans are scheduled to be completed during 2010.

What is a marine reserve?
Marine reserves (sometimes also called marine protected areas or marine parks) are any area of the ocean which has been reserved by law or other effective means for the purposes of marine biodiversity protection.
Why are we developing new marine reserves?
Australia has national and international commitments to implement a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) by 2012. The primary goal of the NRSMPA is to establish and manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of marine reserves to contribute to the long-term conservation of marine ecosystems and to protect marine biodiversity at all levels.

How are new marine reserves being identified?
In 1998 the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council released the ’Guidelines for establishing the national representative system of marine protected areas’ (the Guidelines). The Guidelines provide for nationally consistent framework for identifying new marine reserves and they emphasise the strong role that science needs to play in the process. The Guidelines allow for each government in Australia to develop its own approach and policy for implementing them.
The Australian Government policy for implementing the Guidelines and identifying suitable areas for inclusion in the NRSMPA is the Goals and Principles for the Establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas in Commonwealth Waters (the Goals and Principles). The Australian Government is using these Goals and Principles to gather relevant information, including socio-economic data, and ensure that the identification of new marine reserves is based on systematic and comprehensive analysis of all relevant considerations.

What are Areas for Further Assessment?
Areas for Further Assessment are an important step in refining information on human uses and socio-economic values in the marine environment. They are large areas that encompass examples of the range of biodiversity and ecosystems within each Region and they are identified though assessment of information compiled using the Goals and Principles for the Establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas in Commonwealth Waters.
Areas for Further Assessment are not the proposed boundaries for new marine reserves. Instead, they are intended to aid further analysis of information at a more detailed scale and assist in the design of new marine reserves.
Based on ecological information and information obtained from key stakeholders on human activities within the areas for further assessment, the location and zoning arrangements of a new network of marine reserves will be developed. This process aims to ensure that conservation outcomes are maximised while socio-economic costs associated with establishing marine reserves are minimised.
Where are the Areas for Further Assessment in the North Marine Region?
Areas for Further Assessment have been identified in the North Marine Region (Map 2). These areas have been identified on the basis of an analysis of marine species and ecosystems and an initial assessment of human activities in Commonwealth waters. Stakeholders will be consulted to improve information on human activities within these areas, focusing on developing a thorough understanding of the potential socio-economic impacts of new marine reserves that may be established.

What activities are allowed in marine reserves and how will they be managed?
The network of new marine reserves established through the marine bioregional planning process will be zoned to allow different uses to occur within them as long as those uses are consistent with the protection of biodiversity. While most of each new marine reserve will be zoned to allow many uses and activities to continue, highly protected zones will also be identified within each new marine reserve.
What will happen to existing activities that are not allowed within new marine reserves?
A process to develop a policy for managing activities that are impacted through the declaration of new marine reserves is underway. The policy will establish the objectives, principles and directions for addressing the management of impacts arising from the declaration of new reserves, including the displacement of activities.
An Australian Government Steering Group has been established to guide the development of this displaced activities policy. The Steering Group is supported by a Stakeholder Advisory Group which consists of representatives from indigenous communities and key sectors including commercial, charter and recreational fishing, petroleum, conservation, ports and shipping.
Recommendations on the displaced activities policy are intended to be available for Ministerial consideration by October 2009.

How can I get involved in the marine bioregional planning process?
The Australian Government welcomes any contribution that will assist in developing Marine Bioregional Plans. While information from marine resource users, researchers and managers will be identified throughout the process, the Marine Bioregional Planning Program also involves key steps during which the public is invited to provide input.
Consultation with stakeholders will focus on issues and activities relevant to each marine region and workshops will be held to provide updates on progress and to discuss and seek feedback on planning approaches. In addition to these workshops, targeted consultation will be undertaken on specific aspects of the planning process.
A formal public consultation period of at least 60 days will occur on the release of each draft Marine Bioregional Plan. During this public consultation period stakeholders will be contacted and public meetings will be held where needed to facilitate and discuss feedback on the draft Plan. Views expressed by stakeholders will be considered before the final Marine Bioregional Plan is completed for each Region.
After the Minister has adopted the final Marine Bioregional Plans, the proposed network of new marine reserves will be declared through a separate process. This declaration process involves additional public consultation and another formal 60 day feedback period.

Requests for additional information, or any questions and comments may be directed to:
mbp.north@environment.gov.au

Or mail to:
The Director
Tropical North Marine Conservation
Marine Division
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra 2601 ACT