Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B00701:front:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B00701
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 21768–24796

is a major management consideration, and intends that any use of the Park that threatens, or potentially threatens, nature conservation values will be managed to reduce or eliminate the threats.

 (2) The Authority intends that this Plan will:
 (a) maintain and enhance biodiversity within the Planning Area; and
 (b) protect marine ecosystems to ensure that their natural values and ecological integrity are retained; and
 (c) ensure that all of the habitats within the Planning Area remain viable and functional; and
 (d) uphold Australia's international obligations to protect, and conserve for future generations, the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area that are represented in the Planning Area; and
 (e) ensure that processes that affect threatened species are identified and, in accordance with the precautionary principle, minimised or eliminated.

1.12 Nature conservation values

  Values relating to nature conservation in the Planning Area are the following:
 (a) dugong, marine turtles and the extensiveness of the seagrass beds;
 (b) corals and associated biota;
 (c) birds and their habitats in, or adjacent to, the Planning Area;
 (d) scenic integrity.

1.13 Nature conservation issues

  Issues relating to the nature conservation values in the Planning Area are the following:
 (a) the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems;
 (b) the decline of, threats to and disturbance of dugong populations;
 (c) the disturbance of whales and dolphins;
 (d) the disturbance of marine turtles, particularly when they are feeding;
 (e) the damage to coral from direct human activities including anchoring;
 (f) the disturbance of birds when they are roosting or nesting;
 (g) the potential for the scenic integrity of the Planning Area to be degraded by human activities.

1.14 Nature conservation strategies

  To reduce or eliminate the threats to, and disturbance of, nature conservation values in the Planning Area, high levels of protection will be assigned to areas of unique or outstanding nature conservation value.

Note   The Authority is involved in programs, other than this Plan, that will benefit the nature conservation values in the Planning Area. For example:
(a) tertiary treatment standards have been implemented for direct discharge of sewage from islands in the Planning Area; and
(b) the Authority is working with Queensland agencies and stakeholders to implement appropriate reef-wide standards for vessel sewage discharges; and
(c) the Authority is actively encouraging and assisting in the development of catchment-wide initiatives which will lead to the reduction of discharge loads of sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural and other activities undertaken on land adjacent to the Marine Park; and
(d) as tourism is an important activity in the Planning Area, the Authority is working with the tourism industry to ensure best environmental practices through accreditation, training, education programs and materials.

Subdivision 2 Marine animals, plants