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2008 Update
Thirteen new Commonwealth Marine Reserves have been proclaimed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). The new reserves, together with the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve will form the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network (Reserve Network) and will be managed under the authority of the Director of National Parks (DNP) by the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (the Department).
If you wish to continue to commercially fish in areas within the reserves where fishing is permitted, or transit through any reserves, you must be registered under an approval from the Director of National Parks.
Once you have applied, your registration will be processed by the Department, and you will receive a letter confirming your registration. You will then be an 'approval holder' and will be able to conduct commercial fishing (where commercial fishing is permitted) or transit within the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, subject to the conditions of approval.
In the User Guide (below) you will find a range of information in relation to the South-east reserves. It contains an introduction to the guide, relevant maps and information relating to approvals, network management, commercial fishing approval and conditions, registrations and zoning arrangements.
This User Guide, together with a copy of your confirmation of approval, should be kept on all approved fishing vessels for quick reference to information and details of your approval and conditions. Enough User Guides will be provided by the Department to enable a copy to be placed on each vessel, with an additional copy provided for office use.
Please read the conditions of approval before lodging your application.
Send your registration form to:
South-east region manager
Marine Protected Areas Management
Department of the Environment and Water Resources
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Commonwealth SE MPA Network Finalised (for more detailed maps on the DEH website - click here)
Latest Edition of Express News
With the announcement of a finalised Commonwealth MPA network for the SE region, released on 5 May 2006, it would appear that the united front put foward by the seafood industry has been well recieved with the estimated impacts reduced by over 90% compared to the Government's December announcement. From a conservation point of view, the total area is reportedly over 20% larger than the December network, representing over 19% of the Commonwealth waters of the SE region - or more than 3 times the size of Tasmania.
Although the final outcome is vastly improved from the December announcement, there are still impacts from the finalised MPA network and the compensation issue will continue to be pursued (no decision has been made on this at this point in time).
The following press relases from the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz, and the Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC) outline the positive outcomes achieved.
The following report was undertaken to assess potential impacts from the proposed Marine Protected Areas in the South East region
This report was prepared to assist with the identification of the impacts associated with the Commonwealth’s proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as part of the Australian Government’s establishment of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPAs) for the conservation of biodiversity. The report received financial support from the Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC) (Project number 2005/083) and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment (DPIWE). Co-authors of the report were Professor Colin Buxton and Associate Professor Malcolm Haddon from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) and Dr Matthew Bradshaw from DPIWE.
Please note that the proposed changes to the MPA network described in this report are exactly that - PROPOSED CHANGES - and are not intended to represent a final outcome. There are still negotiations to take place and it is likely that the MPA network will be altered.
Proposed Commonwealth SE MPA Network
Critical timeframe:
January and February 2006 will be the public consultation period
End of March 2006 MPA boundaries finalised
December 2006 MPA network formally declared under the EPBC Act
For more information on the South East MPA Network, previous reports or further updates please call us at the TFIC Office or click here
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