The public has been invited to have their say in the drafting of new management plans for the country’s 44 marine parks involving greater protection for Lord Howe and Norfolk islands.
And the public is invited to have a say in the drafting of these plans.
The federal government says new plans will replace five expiring ones for the Temperate East, South-west, North-west, North and Coral Sea parks and create a sixth one. at Norfolk Island.
These plans protect 2.37 million square kilometres of ocean (larger than Queensland and New South Wales combined.
HAVING A PUBLIC SAY
Consultation on the new plans and expansions at Lord Howe and Norfolk islands are now open.
The proposed changes include a boundary expansion for Norfolk and Lord Howe marine parks and incorporating Gifford Marine Park into Lord Howe Marine Park.
The public has until 4pm, September 30, through the Have Your Say portal; they can consult the findings of the independent evaluations of the 2018-2028 management plans before doing so.
The plans are expected to be released for public consultation in 2027 while the seafood industry will be consulted about possible assistance.
GREENPEACE WELCOMES NEWS
Greenpeace Australia Pacific says the news is “a rare, once-in-a-decade” chance to strengthen marine parks protection and ban industrial fishing.
Senior campaigner Elle Lawless says more than half of all marine parks currently allow for extractive industries like longlining, bottom trawling, and oil and gas mining.
“These so-called ‘protected’ areas were designed to safeguard our ocean wildlife and underwater ecosystems – that is what Australians expect,” she says.
“Damaging industrial industries should not be given a free pass to trawl, fish, drill or extract from our marine parks.
“Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling for industrial activities to be banned from our protected waters and for at least 30% of Australia’s oceans to be protected sanctuaries.
“This review presents a rare opportunity to create more ocean sanctuaries, true blue havens where ocean life can recover, thrive and repopulate the surrounding waters.”
GRANT FUNDING: $5.5 million in grant funding is now available for the marine parks. Our Marine Park grants of $50,000 to $500,000 will be available to fund eligible projects for First Nations peoples, regional communities, scientists, fishers and other marine park users. Applications open on August 13 and close on October 27; click here to apply for a grant.
OTHER GREENPEACE NEWS: Pacific to lose from deep sea mining
