Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070:body:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 40531–43628

invasive species pose a significant threat to the marine park's unique biodiversity, as well as to marine industries and amenity. As a First Point of Entry under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth), Christmas Island Port is subject to biosecurity controls under this Act, which are administered by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Islands, reefs and other shallow water ecosystems are vulnerable to marine invasive species. Invasives can impact native species directly, through predation or by damaging important habitats; and indirectly, through competition for habitats and food. At the time this plan is made, no invasive species have established themselves in the Christmas Island marine environment and a regular marine invasive species monitoring program is in place.
     1.      Coastal development and infrastructure
Coastal development on Christmas Island helps to provide infrastructure and services to support the local population. For example, Christmas Island is reliant on the port at Flying Fish Cove for the shipment of supplies, including food, fuel and other necessities; and for the export of locally mined phosphate. The critical nature of this infrastructure is recognised in the marine park's design, which excludes the port and marine area adjacent to the island's settled areas from the marine park.

Significant developments at Christmas Island are complex and costly given the remoteness and environment of the island. The cliff line and swell conditions around most of the Christmas Island coastline make significant shoreline development unlikely. It is therefore unlikely that coastal development and infrastructure will be significant direct pressures on the marine park.

     1.      Fishing pressure
Fishing is a significant recreational activity for many residents on Christmas Island. Local commercial fishing is small scale and low impact.

To help ensure local fishing pressure is managed, recreational fishing rules have been developed for Christmas Island through a community-led process under the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts, which is responsible for fisheries management at Christmas Island. These fishing rules support the sustainability of island-based fishing activities. As is the case for other Australian marine parks, the inshore yellow Habitat Protection Zone (IV) allows recreational fishing that complies with the local fishing rules.

Fishing, including illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, can modify natural populations of target species. Bycatch of non-target species and/or physical disturbance to habitats can result from certain fishing methods and may therefore impact on marine park values. The green National Park zoning of the offshore waters of the marine park mean that no fishing of any kind is permitted across this large expanse of ocean. However, illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels is a risk to the marine park, as the offshore waters surrounding Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Indo-Pacific are