Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p28
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 80242–83011

to guide the Director in managing visitor access and use under the previous management plan, and to inform the public. The strategies prescribe conditions for visitor access, boating, recreational fishing and scuba diving, and represent codes of conduct for minimising impacts on the values of the park. These strategies will continue to apply during this life of this plan and may be reviewed. Permit conditions require observance of the strategies.
Cocos-Malay people have relied on marine wildlife for a major part of their food supply since settlement in the 1820s. The cultural tradition of catching a large number of fish to provide as gifts remains strong. On the southern atoll, there has been a steady rise in fishing since the 1980s. However, due to the difficulties of access, the fishing, harvesting and collecting of North Keeling Island's marine resources by the local community and visitors has been limited. Prior to the declaration of the park, fishing was allowed to within 100 metres of the shoreline.
The previous management plans for the park restricted fishing to trolling only, to minimise impacts of fishing on reef fish species. This policy will continue under this management plan in order to protect and conserve marine species within the park.
As noted in Section 4.1 of this plan, the SMS Emden is an historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and a protected zone has been declared around it under the Act (see also Map 4). The power to grant permits to access the protected zone surrounding the Emden under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 lies with the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Delegate, who at the time of writing this plan was the Commonwealth Shipwrecks Officer within the Department.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulations) prohibit a person who is fishing to use underwater breathing apparatus or fishing equipment other than lines, hooks and lures. The Regulations also prohibit the use of live bait or native species as bait (other than a species of fish), and cleaning or filleting fish within a marine area. Under r.12.35, the Director may prohibit fishing in the park or determine restrictions on fishing.
The EPBC Regulations (rr.12.23 and 12.23A) enable the Director to restrict entry to areas in the park on a temporary or permanent basis, and to prohibit or restrict activities or classes of activities within all or part of a Commonwealth reserve. In addition, the Director may implement temporary or long-term closures of areas in the park if an activity or access has the potential to impact on park values or poses a risk to public safety, or if required for management purposes. In these circumstances every effort is made to inform visitors