Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p41
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 122054–125122

the Director may assist other agencies to assess and monitor compliance with the EPBC Act and Regulations in relation to actions and proposals outside the park.
The laws of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, including applied Western Australian laws, apply in the park to the extent that they can operate concurrently with the Act and Regulations and this plan.
Foreign fishermen occasionally fish illegally in the park and have landed on North Keeling Island and stolen or vandalised park equipment. Such theft and damage has led to interference with long-term park monitoring programs. Illegal landings by foreign fishermen also have the potential to introduce weeds, pests and diseases.
Large numbers of seabirds, especially red-footed boobies, have been harvested by Cocos-Malay people over the last century. Protection of the population on North Keeling Island in more recent years has resulted in a much larger and more stable population.
Protection of migratory species under the EPBC Act has made it an offence to kill many of the birds that the Cocos-Malay community has traditionally harvested with illegal poaching of seabirds both in the park and around the southern atoll an ongoing problem. In 1998 the Australian Federal Police implemented a gun control program under the National Firearms Program Implementation Act 1998 for registered firearms in the territory. This is likely to assist in reducing the level of poaching.
Since 2002, the Western Australian Department of Fisheries has undertaken management responsibilities for the Territorial waters surrounding the park and the southern atoll under a service delivery agreement with the Territory Administration. The territorial waters (to 12 nautical miles) are managed in accordance with any applied Western Australian fisheries laws.
During the life of the previous plan, compliance activities were refocused from a law enforcement approach to an educational approach which helped build better relations with the community. The results of this approach in relation to reducing illegal activities are yet to be determined.

Issues
    * The remoteness of and difficulties accessing the park can make the conduct of on-site compliance activities challenging
    * Compliance with the EPBC Act and Regulations and the provisions of this management plan needs to be monitored and enforced.
    * Enforcement activities by park staff and relevant agencies must comply with Australian Government legislation, policies and guidelines.

What we are going to do

Policies
    7.3.1           Compliance and enforcement activities in the park will be carried out in accordance with the Director's compliance and law enforcement policies and strategies.

    7.3.2           Compliance and enforcement priorities will reflect assessed risks and will be regularly reviewed.

Actions
    7.3.3           Assess permit applications, provide briefings to applicants and issue permits where appropriate having regard to Section 7.1, Assessment of proposals.

    7.3.4           Further develop, implement, monitor and