Rectification of this situation is necessary for Australia to retain its claimed ocean areas and affect responsible management thereof. To achieve this goal the Commonwealth must address both its marine policy capabilities and outstanding issues of federalism. There remains an urgent need for a stronger and better coordinated national effort in monitoring and research and this could be provided by the Oceans Policy. Actions by Governments should include increased research funding for applied aquaculture projects, simplification of the development application process by aligning aquaculture with agriculture, rather than fisheries, and implementing training programs to help people enter the aquaculture industry. All research, mapping and survey operations should be majority Australian owned.
Considerable research is needed in the management of large offshore areas in mid-ocean.
The Oceans Policy should provide an integrated framework based on ecologically sustainable development principles. The Oceans Policy needs to ensure that some marine parks authorities managing larger multiple use marine parks will allow a wide range of activities. Multiple use of the marine environment must be considered, given there is a conflict between the properties of the ocean as a public and private good. The right of incidental encroachment should be legislated in relation to interaction with marine mammals. Freedom of navigation is an essential right and should be specifically legislated as such.