Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00327:front:0:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00327
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 34113–37085

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
Climate change
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.

Habitat modification
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.