Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01506:reg:2013:p20
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01506
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2013 (pt 20/32)
Character Range: 90399–93577

examples of all of Australia's different marine ecosystems and habitats. Commonwealth
marine reserves are managed according to management plans made under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). A single management plan is being developed for each regional marine reserves network and for
the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Draft management plans are available at: www.environment.gov.au/marinereserves/index.html. Transitional management
arrangements are in place until management plans come into effect in July 2014.

The Commonwealth marine reserves network protects habitats important for threatened species, including the white shark. For example, many of the Commonwealth marine
reserves intersect with biologically important areas for the white shark identified in the
marine bioregional plans. In particular, the important juvenile aggregation site at Port
Stephens intersects with the Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve in the Temperate
East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network. In addition, nine of the 14 Commonwealth Marine Reserves in the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network overlap with biologically important areas for foraging for the white shark. More information is available at: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/marineplans/cva/index.html.. Three of the 14 Commonwealth Marine Reserves in the South East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network overlap with biologically important areas for foraging for the white shark (Figure 1) and an additional seven
of these Commonwealth marine reserves potentially provide further important foraging habitat because they intersect fur seal haul out sites.

11 Effects on other native species or ecological communities

Reducing anthropogenic impacts from activities such as fisheries activities or encounters
with shark protection devices may benefit other threatened marine species, such as other shark species, marine turtles, seabirds and marine mammals. The consequences for other native species, should white shark numbers increase substantially as a result of this plan, is unknown and difficult to predict. Possible negative impacts include increased mortalities of the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), a listed threatened species, and impacts on other marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates.

12 Biodiversity benefits

The white shark is an ecologically important apex predator that is recorded in low numbers
in comparison with other large sharks, even in its known centres of abundance.

The South-west and Temperate East marine bioregional plans have identified the white
shark as a regional priority on the basis of their unique association within the regions
and their habitats.

Although the white shark is a wide-ranging species that is found in all seas, the South-west Marine Region appears to be an important area for the species. Available records of incidental catches of white sharks in Australian waters are higher in the South-west Marine Region than in any other region, and are not well correlated with fishing effort. Fishing activities along the west coast of Western Australia (Shark Bay to Bunbury) and in the Great