The Australian Government is committed to developing a comprehensive and integrated Oceans Policy for the effective management of the Exclusive Economic Zone, covering an area of over 11 million square kilometres of marine waters and their resources. The purpose of an Oceans Policy is to provide a single and strategic framework for the planning, management and ecologically sustainable development of Australia's fisheries, shipping, petroleum, gas and sea bed resources while ensuring the conservation of the marine environment.
Oceans serve a variety of important functions.
The majority of economic activity is related to marine biodiversity and ecological processes. Consequently, economic sustainability relies on ecological integrity of the oceans. The 1997 Oceans Policy Consultation Paper identifies a range of issues that are seen as relevant to an Oceans Policy. The analysis of these issues, and identification and understanding of the underlying pressures and causes, is the basis for policy analysis. Some of the most pressing issues that oceans management has to address include declining water quality, pollution, habitat loss and the introduction of exotic pests.