Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01314:reg:2013:p20
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01314
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2013 (pt 20/24)
Character Range: 73344–76414

Affected
Interests

Organisations likely to be affected by the actions proposed in this plan include:
Commonwealth and state government agencies — particularly those involved with
environmental and fisheries concerns — commercial and recreational fishers; researchers;
tourism operators; conservation groups; wildlife interest groups and proponents of
coastal development in the vicinity of important habitat areas.

13 Consultation

The Recovery Plan for the Australian Sea Lion has been developed through extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and affected interests, including a scientific workshop held in November 2011 and a broader stakeholder workshop held in April 2012. Groups consulted include other Commonwealth agencies, in particular DAFF and AFMA; state government agencies including the fisheries, scientific and conservation departments within the South Australian and Western Australian governments; researchers; conservation groups; the DSEWPaC Indigenous Advisory Committee; commercial and recreational fishing representative groups; tourism operators and the TSSC.

The draft version of the plan and the 2010 Australian Sea Lion Technical Issues Paper was open to public consultation in April 2010 for a period of three months and the final version of the plan was approved by the TSSC on 6 September 2012 before being made by the Minister.

14 Biodiversity Benefits

The Commonwealth South-west Marine Bioregional Plan is available for download at:
www.environment.gov.au/coasts/marineplans/index.html It identifies the Australian sea lion as a regional priority because of the species' conservation status, the significance of the region to their recovery and the pressures impacting the population in the region. This recovery plan is likely to benefit the protection of
non-target native species that occur within the same habitat as the Australian sea lion such as the Australian fur seal and the New Zealand fur seal. Evidence suggests that pinniped colonies are areas where white sharks can aggregate or frequently revisit to feed and are therefore most likely areas of habitat critical to the survival of white sharks (Bruce, et al., 2005). Actions to reduce fishing impacts and fishing related marine debris in areas occupied by Australian sea lions may also have benefits for a range of other marine species that interact with fishing practices.

15 Social and Economic Considerations

15.1 Ecotourism

The Australian sea lion is of economic value for ecotourism (land-based and boat-based tourism). Over the last 15 years, pinniped tourism has experienced a rapid growth in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. For example, Seal Bay in South Australia attracts more than 100 000 visitors per year. Measures put in place to manage the impacts of human interactions, if necessary, may affect ecotourism operators. Such measures may also impact on the social value to tourists of enjoying the natural amenity of an Australian sea lion colony.

15.2 Commercial and recreational fishing