Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L00327
Timestamp: 2020-05-29 21:21:23
Document Index: 261754292

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Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018
Details: F2018L00327
- F2018L00327
This instrument provides for the management of the Coral Sea Marine Park.
F2018L00327
APPROVAL OF THE CORAL SEA MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2018
I, JOSH FRYDENBERG, Minister for the Environment and Energy, acting pursuant to section 370 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, hereby approve the Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018.
Dated this …….....25.............. day of …………January……………., 2018
Director of National Parks 2018, Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018, Director of National Parks, Canberra.
Noble feather star, Marion Reef (Nigel Marsh)
Part 1..... Managing Australian Marine Parks 5
1.1 Introductory provisions. 5
1.2 Australian Marine Parks. 5
1.3 Australian Marine Parks vision and objectives. 6
1.4 Management plan. 6
1.5 Legislation and policy supporting marine park management 7
1.6 Approach to managing Australian Marine Parks. 9
1.7 Ways of working. 9
1.8 Partnerships. 10
1.9 Management programs and actions. 12
1.10 Zones. 12
1.11 Implementation plans. 13
1.12 Adaptive management 13
Part 2..... The Coral Sea Marine Park 14
2.1 The Coral Sea Marine Park. 15
2.2 Values of the Coral Sea Marine Park. 17
2.3 Pressures in the Coral Sea Marine Park. 19
2.4 Management programs and actions in the Coral Sea Marine Park. 22
Chapter 2 Management and prescriptions 29
Part 3. Zoning 30
3.1 Zone categories, names and objectives. 31
Part 4..... Managing activities 33
4.1 Outline of Part 4. 34
4.2 Rules for activities. 34
4.2.1 General use, access, and waste management 36
4.2.2 Commercial shipping (other than commercial fishing and aquaculture vessels) 37
4.2.3 Commercial fishing. 38
4.2.4 Commercial aquaculture. 42
4.2.5 Commercial media. 43
4.2.6 Commercial tourism (includes charter fishing tours, scuba diving, nature watching tours) 44
4.2.7 Recreational fishing. 45
4.2.8 Mining operations (includes exploration) 46
4.2.9 Structures and works. 47
4.2.10 Research and monitoring. 49
4.2.11 National security and emergency response. 51
4.2.12 New activities and authorisations. 52
4.3 Making decisions about activities. 53
4.3.1 Decision-making. 53
4.3.2 Assessments under other processes. 53
4.3.3 Review of decisions. 54
4.4 Authorisation of allowable activities. 54
4.4.1 Permits. 54
4.4.2 Class approvals. 55
4.4.3 Activity licences and leases. 57
4.4.4 Publication of authorisations. 58
Schedule 1 Summary of legislative and policy contexts 65
S1.1 The EPBC Act and EPBC Regulations. 65
S1.2 Other relevant legislation. 72
S1.3 International agreements. 73
Schedule 2 Coral Sea Marine Park overview and values 76
S2.1 Coral Sea Marine Park overview. 77
S2.2 Coral Sea Marine Park values. 78
Coral Sea Marine Park. 78
Schedule 3 Environmental features used in the design of the Coral Sea Marine Park 100
Schedule 4 Coral Sea Marine Park and zone boundary descriptions 106
Schedule 5 Supporting information 123
Map data sources. 124
Red-tail tropic birds (Parks Australia)
This management plan (plan) is the Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018.
This plan is made under Section 370 of the EPBC Act. This plan replaces all previous approvals under s.359B of the EPBC Act that authorised a range of activities in the Coral Sea Marine Park in the period from proclamation of the Marine Park to the commencement of this plan.
a) the protection and conservation of biodiversity and other natural, cultural and heritage values of the Coral Sea Marine Park; and
b) ecologically sustainable use and enjoyment of the natural resources within the Marine Park, where this is consistent with objective (a).
1.4 Management plan
This plan is structured into two chapters and five schedules (Table 1.1). Chapter 1 provides an introduction to how Australian Marine Parks are managed, and Chapter 2 provides for the management of the Coral Sea Marine Park.
Australia also has international responsibility under the World Heritage Convention and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, to manage the Coringa–Herald and Lihou Reefs and Cays Ramsar sites.
Provides a summary of the Coral Sea Marine Park including natural, cultural, heritage, social and economic values, the pressures facing the Marine Park and the management actions to protect values and manage pressures.
Coral Sea Marine Park overview and values
Provides a summary of the Coral Sea Marine Park proclamation, a description of values and a map for the Marine Park.
Environmental features used in design of the Coral Sea Marine Park
Describes the environmental features used to identify zones in the Coral Sea Marine Park. These include bioregions, depth ranges, seafloor features and key ecological features.
Coral Sea Marine Park and zone boundary descriptions
Lists the coordinates of the Coral Sea Marine Park and zones.
· Respectful of the traditional owners of the sea, marine park users, stakeholders and other government agencies.
The Director will build on existing partnerships with Commonwealth government agencies with critical roles in managing and understanding Australia’s marine environment, including the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Defence, Geosciences Australia, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Border Force and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority. The Director will also build on partnerships with the Queensland fisheries and marine park agencies, and research institutions that provide support to the day-to-day management of the Coral Sea Marine Park, while ensuring a consistent approach to managing marine parks around Australia.
To support collaborative management and achieve the vision for marine parks, the Director will establish an advisory forum for the Coral Sea Marine Park that complements existing stakeholder engagement arrangements for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Director will work closely with stakeholders to develop an appropriate format for the advisory forum and implement management programs and actions for the Marine Park.
The role of the advisory forum will be to support and collaborate with the Director to manage marine parks by:
Members will represent the broad range of users, interests and knowledge about marine parks and may represent sectors such as commercial fishing, energy, Indigenous people, infrastructure, non-government organisations, recreational fishing, science, tourism, transport and the broader community. Membership and terms of reference for the advisory forum will be developed in consultation with stakeholders as soon as practicable after the commencement of this plan.
The Director is committed to working with Indigenous people to manage sea country within marine parks and will achieve this through the Indigenous engagement program (Section 2.4). This includes building partnerships with traditional owners and Indigenous people with responsibilities for sea country.
Zoning and related rules for managing activities are important tools for managing marine parks to ensure protection of marine habitats and species, while enabling use. Parts 3 and 4 of this plan set out the zones and rules for activities in the Coral Sea Marine Park.
In determining the zones and rules, the Director has considered the best available science, the advice of stakeholders, Indigenous people and the general public, the goals and principles of the NRSMPA and the Australian IUCN reserve management principles (Schedule 1). Zones established by this plan (Part 3) in the Coral Sea Marine Park are summarised in Table 1.3.
Table 1.3 Summary of zones in the Coral Sea Marine Park
Habitat Protection Zone (IUCN category IV)—managed to allow activities that do not harm or cause destruction to seafloor habitats while conserving ecosystems, habitats and native species in as natural a state as possible.
The Director will work closely with stakeholders and the advisory forum to develop detailed implementation plans. Three stages of implementation plans will be developed to set out the management actions that will occur in the Coral Sea Marine Park and identify performance indicators.
· Implementation plan 3—Finalisation and review (years 9–10). To set out arrangements to review the lessons learnt from implementing the management plan over the first eight years, and inform the development of the next management plan for the Coral Sea Marine Park.
· inform the development of a new management plan for the Coral Sea Marine Park at the conclusion of this plan.
Part 2. The Coral Sea Marine Park
Booby nesting on sand cay (Martin Russell)
2.1 The Coral Sea Marine Park
The Coral Sea Marine Park covers 989 836 km² and extends from Cape York Peninsula to an east–west line approximately 40 km north of Bundaberg in Queensland. The nearest point of the Marine Park to mainland Australia is approximately 60 km and it extends to approximately 1100 km from the coast (Figure 2.1). An overview of the Marine Park and its values is provided in Schedule 2.
Traditional owners have managed and used sea country within the Coral Sea Marine Park for tens of thousands of years. The Marine Park is popular for activities such as fishing, snorkelling, diving and boating. Tourism operators offer unique experiences for visitors to enjoy the offshore reefs, islands, cays and deep-water environments. Although the Marine Park is remote and far offshore, opportunities exist for recreational use, particularly around offshore atolls and reefs.
There are significant industries in the Coral Sea Marine Park, including commercial fishing and shipping that contribute to economic growth, employment and social wellbeing in coastal towns and communities. Activities and businesses that support these industries such as marine industry suppliers and repair yards are also important sources of employment for coastal communities.
The marine environment of the Coral Sea Marine Park is characterised by shallow-water tropical marine ecosystems, a large area of continental shelf and continental slope, two areas of abyssal plain with depths to 6000 m, high incidence of cyclones, high species diversity and globally significant populations of internationally threatened species. A small number of species are found nowhere else. There are approximately 34 reefs, and 56 cays and islets in the Marine Park, with a total reef area of approximately 15,024 km2. Most of the species in the Marine Park are tropical and are also found in other parts of the Pacific Ocean; many of them are shared with the North and Temperate East Marine Regions. The seafloor features of the Marine Park are diverse and include coral reefs, soft sediments and canyons that support high species diversity. A key example is Bligh Canyon in the north of the Marine Park, which is 200 km long, 10 km wide and cuts 300 m into the seafloor.
The Coral Sea Marine Park is influenced by a complex system of ocean currents that change seasonally and between years. Currents have also influenced the composition of reef species. The east–west-flowing South Equatorial Current cuts through the centre of the Marine Park before dividing to form the north-flowing Hiri Current and the south-flowing East Australian Current. These currents create a barrier reducing the mixing of species between the north and south of the Marine Park, forming distinct communities. The southern part of the Marine Park transitions between tropical and temperate waters and includes the northern extent of the range of some temperate species typical of the Temperate East Marine Region.
The Coral Sea Marine Park includes iconic black marlin (Istiompax indica) spawning aggregations near Osprey Reef, and every year humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate through the Marine Park from Antarctica. Six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle occur in the Marine Park; all have threatened conservation status.
The Coral Sea Marine Park lies immediately to the east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in collaboration with the Queensland Government. The Great Barrier Reef is a recognised World Heritage Area on the basis of its outstanding universal value. Given the connectivity between the ecosystems and species of the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea, and their importance to local jobs and coastal economies, these marine parks need to be managed in a collaborative way.
Further information about the Coral Sea Marine Park can be found in the East marine bioregional plan: bioregional profile (2009) (available on the Department’s website), and the marine park values in Section 2.2 and Schedule 2 of this plan.
Figure 2.1 Coral Sea Marine Park
2.2 Values of the Coral Sea Marine Park
· Natural values—habitats, species and ecological communities within marine parks, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function.
· Cultural values—living and cultural heritage recognising Indigenous beliefs, practices and obligations for country, places of cultural significance and cultural heritage sites.
· Heritage values—non-Indigenous heritage that has aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance.
· Socio-economic values—the benefit of marine parks for people, businesses and the economy.
As outlined in Part 1, in managing marine parks, the Director will need to make decisions about what activities can occur in the marine parks and what actions to take to manage them. This will involve the Director making decisions that carefully balance the need to protect natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values of marine parks with enabling use and managing pressures.
In making these decisions, the Director will carefully consider the impacts and risks to natural, cultural, heritage or socio-economic values for the relevant marine park/s. The values of the Coral Sea Marine Park are set out in Schedule 2 and Figure 2.2 shows Indigenous Protected Areas established near the Coral Sea Marine Park. The Director will also consider any positive impacts associated with allowing an activity, such as socio-economic or cultural benefits, and ensure that activities are undertaken in a manner that minimises negative impacts.
For some areas, such as the Coringa–Herald and Lihou Reefs, there is a relatively strong understanding of values. Where there is less information, environmental features are used as indicators for the types of species and habitats likely to occur. These include bioregions, water depth, seafloor features and key ecological features (Schedule 3).
As understanding of marine park values improves over the life of this plan, the Director will make new information about values available on the Parks Australia website. Other important sources of information on values (also on the Department’s website) include:
· Species profile and threats database for protected species;
· Directory of important wetlands in Australia;
· Australian heritage database for natural, historic and Indigenous heritage places;
· Australian national shipwreck database for known shipwrecks;
· National Conservation Values Atlas; and
· East marine bioregional plan: bioregional profile (2009).
Figure 2.2 Indigenous Protected Areas established near the Coral Sea Marine Park
2.3 Pressures in the Coral Sea Marine Park
Pressures are human-driven processes, events and activities that, if left unchecked, may impact on marine park values. Contemporary drivers of environmental change in the marine environment include population growth and economic activity, and related pressures such as increased vessel activity, marine debris, climate extremes and ocean warming. Figure 2.3 shows the types of uses occurring in the Coral Sea Marine Park. These present key challenges for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of our marine resources.
Australia’s 2016 State of the environment report reviewed pressures on Australia’s marine environment and determined that they were low by global standards. However, given that more than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 km of the sea, and with Australia’s population of approximately 24.4 million projected to grow to 39.7 million by 2055, pressures on the marine environment are likely to increase.
Although pressures on marine ecosystems and biodiversity in the Coral Sea Marine Park may change over time, examples of pressures on marine ecosystems and biodiversity in the Marine Park are outlined in Table 2.1. Research in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and elsewhere in the world has demonstrated that effective management of marine parks, helps to maintain the resilience of marine ecosystems and their ability to withstand and recover from such pressures.
In determining the management actions to be taken in the Coral Sea Marine Park and in making decisions about the activities that will be allowed to occur within the Marine Park, the Director will carefully consider how the values outlined in Section 2.2 and in Schedule 2 will be impacted by these pressures now and in the future.
Pressures such the extraction of living resources by fishing, and habitat modification through installation of infrastructure and anchoring will be managed in part through the zones and rules set out in Parts 3 and 4 of this plan.
Table 2.1 Summary of pressures in the Coral Sea Marine Park
The impacts of climate change on the marine environment are complex and may include changes in sea temperature, sea level, ocean acidification, sea currents, increased storm frequency and intensity, species range extensions or local extinctions, all of which have the potential to impact on marine park values. The International Panel on Climate Change recognises climate change as a major contributor to Australian marine ecosystem changes since 2007. Examples of habitats, key ecological features and species vulnerable to the effects of climate change include reef, cay and seamount habitats, and species of shark, dolphin, marine turtle, sea snake, sea cucumber and fish.
Extraction of living resources
Australia’s world class fisheries management led by Commonwealth, state and territory governments is important for ensuring sustainable fishing practices. Fishing, including illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (including illegal foreign fishing), can modify natural populations of target species. Bycatch of non-target species and/or physical disturbance to habitats can result from certain fishing methods, and may therefore impact on marine park values. Examples of habitats, key ecological features and species vulnerable to such impacts include reef, cay and seamount habitats, and species of shark, dolphin, marine turtle, sea snake, sea cucumber and fish.
Commonwealth, state and territory governments play an important role in managing activities in the marine environment. Impacts on habitat in marine parks can occur directly through physical disturbance or indirectly through the presence of infrastructure. For example, benthic communities are vulnerable to human influenced modifications to the quality and quantity of light received at the seabed. Examples of habitats and species vulnerable to habitat modification pressures include reef, cay and seamount habitats, and species of shark, dolphin, marine turtle, sea snake, sea cucumber and fish.
Activities such as wildlife watching are a drawcard for people visiting marine parks. While enjoying the wildlife experience, it is important to be aware of the potential impacts of human presence on the natural behaviour of wildlife. Activities such as boating, camping, diving and snorkelling have the potential to impact marine park values directly through contact from collision or indirectly through changes in behaviour from disturbance. These activities may result in changes to wildlife behaviour such as nesting, breeding, feeding or resting, or damage to fragile marine environments. Examples of habitats and species vulnerable to human disturbance include reef, cay and seamount habitats, and species of seabirds, shark, dolphin, marine turtle and fish.
Invasive species have the potential to impact on marine park values directly and indirectly. Potential sources of invasive species include vessel ballast and bilge water discharge, vessel biofouling, accidental or deliberate transport of species and land-based activities. Islands, reefs and other shallow-water ecosystems and native species are vulnerable to invasive species, from direct impacts such as predation or damage to important habitat e.g. nesting habitat, or indirect impacts such as competition with native species for habitat and food. Examples of habitats, key ecological features and species vulnerable to the impacts of invasive species include reef and island habitats, and nesting seabirds and marine turtles such as those at Coringa–Herald and Lihou Reefs.
Marine and land-based activities have potential to result in marine pollution which may impact on marine park values. Pollution includes the emission of noise or light, marine debris (for example, plastics and lost fishing gear), and discharge of oil, chemicals or waste. Pollution can be detrimental to marine life, causing contamination of ecosystems, entanglement, or can be ingested by marine species. Examples of habitats and species vulnerable to marine pollution include reef, cay and seamount habitats, and species of shark, dolphin, marine turtle, sea snake, sea cucumber and fish.
Figure 2.3 Direct use in the Coral Sea Marine Park
2.4 Management programs and actions in the Coral Sea Marine Park
As outlined in Part 1, the Director will proactively implement management programs and actions to protect marine parks from threats and pressures, to minimise damage, and to rehabilitate and improve the resilience of marine parks.
These management programs and actions will be implemented on a national scale across all Australian Marine Parks. In addition, specific actions will be undertaken in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Table 2.2 outlines the management programs and actions likely to be undertaken in the Coral Sea Marine Park. These programs and actions may change during the life of this plan as new information and approaches become available. Additional actions will be developed in partnership with stakeholders through advisory forum/s and in implementation plans.
Table 2.2 Management programs, outcomes and actions in the Coral Sea Marine Park
Actions to improve awareness, understanding and support for marine parks and park management.
· Increased awareness, understanding and support for marine parks.
Actions—the Director will
under a national program:
· develop a marketing and communication strategy for Australian Marine Parks to raise awareness and understanding of marine park values and the contribution marine parks make to enhancing Australia’s wellbeing,
· develop online information resources to facilitate awareness of marine park values, management arrangements and visitor opportunities,
· maximise the use of new technologies and partnerships (including with schools, universities, museums and non-government organisations) to inspire people of all ages to become involved in marine park management and protection,
· establish network advisory committees to ensure users and interested stakeholders have on-going input to the management of Australian Marine Parks, and
· develop a customer focussed approach to tracking the aspirations and concerns of stakeholders in relation to marine parks.
in the Coral Sea Marine Park:
· develop information on the Marine Park to encourage increased awareness and understanding of values and management arrangements,
· provide infrastructure in and adjacent to the Marine Park, such as signs and marker buoys, to increase understanding of marine park values and rules, particularly at sites that are regularly visited,
· work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and other Commonwealth and state government agencies, through their communication activities, to increase understanding, and
· establish a Coral Sea Marine Park advisory forum/s or other engagement mechanisms to support and collaborate with the Director in management.
Actions to provide for and promote a range of environmentally appropriate, high-quality recreation and tourism experiences and contribute to Australia’s visitor economy.
· High-quality visitor experiences that are appealing, engaging and raise awareness of the natural and cultural values of marine parks.
· Increased visitation to marine parks.
· Social and economic benefits from the contribution of marine parks to Australia's visitor economy.
develop a sustainable tourism and visitor experience strategy for Australian Marine Parks,
work with national, state and local tourism authorities and operators to maximise the value of sustainable ecotourism opportunities associated with marine parks,
develop a commercial tourism authorisation system to encourage best-practice and eco-accredited businesses operating in Australian Marine Parks,
work with Tourism Australia and state and regional tourism authorities and the fishing industry to market and promote Australian Marine Parks, including opportunities to promote locally caught and sustainably caught seafood,
monitor visitor trends and levels of satisfaction with marine park experiences and products,
promote culturally sensitive tourism by encouraging tourism operators to liaise with traditional owners, and
work with tourism operators and Indigenous people to recognise and promote cultural values and cultural tourism opportunities.
promote visitor experiences that foster curiosity and appreciation of natural and heritage values in the Marine Park, for example diving at Osprey Reef, and
· work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and other Commonwealth and state government agencies and the tourism industry to support tourism initiatives, events and attractions that promote visitor experiences in the Marine Park.
Actions to recognise and respect the ongoing cultural responsibilities of Indigenous people to care for sea country and support multiple benefits for traditional owners.
· Social, cultural and economic benefits for traditional owners.
· Partnerships with traditional owners and Indigenous groups to manage sea country in marine parks.
· develop an Australian Marine Parks Indigenous engagement and cultural heritage strategy, to improve understanding of cultural heritage, link management with sea country plans and maximise employment and enterprise opportunities for traditional owners,
· develop agreements to support Indigenous ranger programs to deliver management in marine parks, and
· provide information to Indigenous people about marine park management.
· collaborate with traditional owners, Indigenous ranger groups, relevant partners and Indigenous advisory committees to undertake marine park management such as surveillance, monitoring, threat mitigation, marine debris removal, and implement actions identified in sea country plans where applicable,
· identify opportunities and mechanisms to engage traditional owners and Indigenous rangers in the management of the Marine Park,
· increase understanding of traditional knowledge and cultural values,
· implement cultural awareness training for Parks Australia staff in association with traditional owners, and
· establish protocols for researchers working with Parks Australia to guide engagement with traditional owners.
Actions to provide necessary scientific knowledge and understanding of marine park values, pressures, and adequacy of responses for effective management.
· Increase understanding of marine park values, pressures and adequacy of responses.
· Improve understanding of the effectiveness of marine park management in protecting park values.
· Informed decision-making and improved evidence-based decisions.
establish ecological, social and economic baselines to support evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management,
develop an Australian Marine Parks science strategy to prioritise and encourage research and monitoring of park values, pressures and management effectiveness, and foster science communication and knowledge uptake,
encourage and facilitate knowledge brokering to support collaboration and partnerships with the science community, private enterprise, citizen science organisations and other Commonwealth, state and territory agencies,
establish an authorisation system for scientific research and monitoring by third parties, and encourage data to be made publicly available through appropriate information portals such as the Australian Ocean Data Network,
collaborate with the science community (including through the National Marine Science Plan Committee and National Environmental Science Program) and other marine park users to assist in improving the understanding of marine park values, pressures and management effectiveness, and
collaborate with the science community and other government agencies to increase the use of innovative and effective technology and systems including sensor technology.
monitor social and economic uses and their benefits and impacts on the Marine Park,
monitor the condition of important habitats such as reef systems at Osprey, Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reefs, and their vulnerability to climate change,
monitor the impact of invasive species on marine park values and the effectiveness of management,
· collaborate with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, other Commonwealth and state government agencies, marine park users and the science sector to support long-term monitoring. For example, monitoring of coral reefs, protected species and effects of fishing on marine parks, and
· investigate opportunities to extend citizen science programs.
Actions to provide for efficient, effective, transparent and accountable assessment, authorisation and monitoring processes to enable sustainable use and protection of marine park values.
· Assessments and authorisations ensure ongoing protection of marine park values through the management of activities in marine parks.
· develop and apply best-practice approaches to regulation and decision-making in the authorisation of activities within marine parks. This includes developing policy to ensure assessment and authorisation requirements are clearly articulated and that decision making is robust, consistently applied, and transparent to all marine park users,
collaborate with industry to investigate innovative technologies and systems (including vessel monitoring systems) that can assist businesses and individuals to comply with regulatory requirements,
develop an effective and efficient process to assess new technologies and gear types to allow for the use of new equipment during the life of this plan if appropriate,
develop a guarantee of service for the regulated community that includes a commitment to work with key marine park users and interest groups whose interests are likely to be affected by regulatory decisions, and
develop a customer focused online authorisation system for marine park users that includes publishing authorisations issued by Parks Australia on its website.
issue authorisations—a permit, class approval, activity licence or lease—for activities in the Marine Park assessed as acceptable either by the Director or another government or industry policy, plan or program accepted by the Director, and
· work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland government agencies to improve experiences and consistency of approaches for people seeking authorisations.
Park protection and management program
Timely and appropriate preventative and restorative actions to protect natural, cultural and heritage values from impacts.
· Impact of pressures on marine park values are minimised as far as reasonably practicable.
· apply a risk-based assessment process to prioritise park protection and management actions,
· develop an Australian Marine Parks critical incident strategy in collaboration with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and other responsible agencies to respond to critical incidents,
· develop a mooring and anchoring strategy to protect marine park values and improve visitor experience,
· support the removal of marine debris and ghost nets from marine parks through partnerships with Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies and other organisations involved in the management of marine debris, and
· contribute to actions, where appropriate, that support Australia’s obligations under international agreements and national environmental law. This includes the World Heritage Convention, Ramsar Convention, recovery plans, wildlife conservation plans and threat abatement plans.
· enable infrastructure such as moorings to protect coral reefs and enhance visitor safety, such as at Osprey Reef,
· collaborate with and support other agencies that undertake invasive and protected species management and marine debris removal. For example, this may include biosecurity assessments, research, or removal of ghost nets,
· work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and other Commonwealth and state government agencies to respond to environmental incidents and accidents, and
· collaborate with traditional owners and Indigenous ranger groups to undertake management actions.
Actions to support appropriate and high level compliance by marine park users with the rules set out in this plan.
· Improved user awareness of marine park rules.
· Increased levels of voluntary compliance and self-regulation by marine park users.
· High overall levels of compliance with the rules by marine park users.
· A decrease in the number of non-compliances.
apply a risk-based approach to compliance planning, targeted enforcement and compliance auditing,
collaborate with Australian, state and territory government agencies by sharing assets and information,
· investigate the use of new technologies and warning systems to assist in the detection of potential illegal activities, and
· work with marine park users to promote understanding of the rules for activities and how to comply.
work with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and other Commonwealth and state government agencies in compliance planning, including implementing actions to deter illegal activities and encourage voluntary compliance, and
· collaborate with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and other Commonwealth and state government agencies in surveillance, including water and aerial patrols.