Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p19
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 53997–56970

the highest recorded within the Indian Ocean region in a survey of natural and plastic flotsam conducted by the British Natural Environmental Research Council in 2004. During the survey, 23.5% of debris investigated on the shores of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands was found to be colonised by living organisms. The vast amount of waterborne debris in the Indian Ocean is providing increased opportunities for marine organisms to travel and thus for exotic invaders to spread (Barnes 2004).
Marine debris also causes the death and debilitation of marine turtles and other marine wildlife (Balazs 1985, Cawthorn 1985). The ingestion of plastic marine debris and the threat of being tangled in fibrous material, such as netting and plastic strapping, is of concern for the health of marine biodiversity including sea turtles and seabirds. Responding to stranding events and quantifying mortality caused by marine debris are identified as actions to monitor and manage in the Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia (Commonwealth of Australia 2003). The recovery plan further suggests that some assessment of the impact of ingested debris should be determined through post-mortem examinations of stranded animals.
In 2005, the lagoon entrance closed as a result of natural forces of deposition and is no longer flushed with seawater, leading to significant changes within this habitat (Hobbs 2009). As a consequence, the lagoon no longer supports large numbers of fish and invertebrates and it is considered that mud crab (Scylla sp.) and bonefish (Albula glossodonta) have become locally extinct (Hobbs 2009).
Research and monitoring will be undertaken in accordance with Section 3.3, Research and monitoring.
Note: Under ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act a person may not kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a native species except in accordance with a management plan. The EPBC Regulations (r.12.20) also prohibit taking animals and plants into the park. See also Policy 3.1.2 with regard to actions undertaken by the Director and actions undertaken by persons authorised by the Director.

Issues
    * More knowledge is needed about marine ecosystems and species, including threats, interactions between marine and terrestrial ecosystems and species, and the distribution and abundance of significant and 'at risk' species.
    * Preventing, monitoring and mitigating threats is a priority. Threats may include recreational or illegal fishing, changing ocean conditions and temperatures, coral disease and bleaching, pollution and introduced species.
    * Access to the waters of North Keeling Island is limited, restricting the amount of research, monitoring, compliance and enforcement activities that can be undertaken.

What we are going to do

Policies
    Policies 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 apply to the Marine Reserve Zone.

Actions
    3.2.1           So far as is practicable, support the implementation of relevant species recovery plans, particularly for