Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100:front:0:p23
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 66692–69702

Australia are a global marine warming hotspot  regions where the rate of warming over the past 50 years is in the top 10% globally. The warm, nutrient-poor waters of the East Australian Current extend along the east coast of Tasmania about 350 km further south than in the 1950s. The region has been, and is predicted to continue to be, affected by severe marine heatwaves, with sea surface temperatures greater than 2 degrees above average levels over several months.
This ocean warming is resulting in 'tropicalisation' of species (the appearance of species typically found further north) and cool-water species moving further south. The first recorded observations were in about the 1950s, with the arrival of the long-spined sea urchin in the Kent Group of Bass Strait islands, but over time increasing numbers of warmer water species are being observed. The east coast of Tasmania is also experiencing significant declines in the abundance of kelp, particularly cool-water adapted species. It is likely the result of both warmer and more nutrient‑poor waters.
Bleaching of sponges on mesophotic reefs was observed in Flinders Marine Park in 2017  likely associated with a significant marine heatwave in the summer of 2015–2016. It is one of the early reports of bleaching in temperate sponges.

    2.4.2     Extraction of living resources
Commonwealth and state government fisheries management agencies are responsible for management of commercial and recreational fishing in the South-east Network, including ensuring sustainable fishing practices. This includes undertaking detailed risk assessments and putting in place a range of measures to reduce bycatch and other impacts on the marine environment. Fishing, including illegal, unregulated and unreported 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.
Illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels in remote offshore green National Park Zones that
extend to the boundary of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone, such as Macquarie Island Marine Park and South Tasman Rise Marine Park, is a risk to values in these parks. Partnerships with other government agencies with sea and air patrol capability support Parks Australia to manage this risk.

    2.4.3     Physical disturbance
Habitats in marine parks can be impacted through physical disturbance such as anchoring, fishing activities or installation of infrastructure  for example, telecommunications or power generation submarine cables. Physical disturbance can directly damage or remove habitat or indirectly affect benthic flora and fauna through suspended sediments causing localised smothering and or reducing the quality and quantity of light received at the seabed.
Wildlife can be impacted by human presence through either direct impacts, such as vessels colliding with wildlife (known as vessel strike), or indirect