Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5276–8298

plan.

Australian Marine Parks
Australia is surrounded by ocean extending from the tropics to the sub-Antarctic, providing a home to a wealth of plants and animals, many of them found nowhere else in the world. Australia's oceans help to support our way of life by providing beautiful places to enjoy, supporting businesses and jobs, and contributing to Australia's food and energy needs.
Marine protected areas are recognised as one of the best ways to conserve and protect marine habitats and species in our oceans. In light of this, the Australian, state and territory governments agreed in 1998 to establish a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). The NRSMPA was designed to create a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) system of marine protected areas, to contribute to the long-term viability of the marine environment and protect biodiversity. To identify areas to protect in the NRSMPA, the Australian Government undertook scientific research and consolidated the best available information on the natural, social and economic characteristics of Australia's marine environment.
On the basis of this work, in 2012, the Australian Government expanded the total coverage of Australia's National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas to 3.3 million km2. This included new marine parks in the North, North-west, South-west, and Temperate East marine regions, and in the Coral Sea. This is in addition to marine parks already established in the South-east Network, the Great Barrier Reef and at Heard and McDonald Islands.
Australian Marine Parks (Commonwealth reserves proclaimed under the EPBC Act in 2007 and 2013) are located in Commonwealth waters that start at the outer edge of state and territory waters, generally three nautical miles (approximately 5.5 km) from the shore, and extend to the outer boundary of Australia's exclusive economic zone, 200 nautical miles (approximately 370 km) from the shore. Marine parks have also been established by state and territory governments in their respective waters under the NRSMPA. Many other countries have moved to establish marine protected areas in their waters and are implementing a range of legislative, policy and management tools to manage these important places.

Australian Marine Parks vision and objectives
Management of Australian Marine Parks requires a balance between protection of our marine environment, and opportunities for sustainable use and enjoyment of these special places.
The vision of the Director of National Parks (the Director) is that marine parks are healthy, resilient and well-managed to enhance Australia's wellbeing. This means ensuring that:
  * their natural, cultural, socio-economic and heritage values are understood, appreciated and conserved;
  * marine parks support jobs and businesses, providing multiple benefits to regional communities and the economy;
  * people have opportunities to enjoy marine parks;
  * visitors and tourists can enjoy world-class nature-based