Does the Marine Parks Act (SA) 2007 facilitate biodiversity? Do we need an Oceans Act federally?

1. Does the Marine Parks Act (SA) 2007 facilitate biodiversity? Do we need an Oceans Act federally? Ruth Beach, Solicitor

2. Why protect marine life? • Diversity of species • The following species are only found in Southern Australia: • 85 percent of our fish species • 95 percent of our mollusc species • 90 percent of our echinoderm species • 75 percent of our red algae • 95 per cent of our seagrasses • Therefore: local, national and international biological significance http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/coasts/planning.html

4. Leafy Sea Dragon’s habitat www.abysspictures.com/Documentaries/The%20Vanishing%20Dragon/The_Vanishing_Dragon.html

5. Habitat? • Effluent disposal and stormwater run off have destroyed seagrass • www.abysspictures.com/Documentaries/The%20Vanishing%20Dragon/The_Vanishing_Dragon.html

6. Threats • Coastal Development • Pollution • Resources: • Fishing • Extractive/Mining • Climate Change

7. MARINE PARKS ACT

8. Marine Parks Act 2007 – Objects: • Section 8: Objects: • To protect & conserve marine biodiversity by developing marine parks which are: • Comprehensive – re range of ecosystems & habitats • Adequate – reasonable area protected • Representative – reflects biodiversity across the region (“CAR”) • Maintaining marine ecological processes • Adapting to the impacts of climate change • Allow ecologically sustainable development • Section 9: Administrators of Act to further the objects

9. Marine Parks Act • s10: Establishment of marine parks • 23 July 2009 marine park outer boundaries • ~ 42% of the State’s waters • Changed by resolution of Parliament

10. SA Marine Parks http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/coasts/planning.html

11. Management Plan • s12-13 Management plan: • Consistent with objects • Strategies for achieving objects • Establish zones • Completed within 3 years of proclamation • Reviewed every 10 years • Consistent with: • Planning strategy • State NRM Plan • Environment Protection Policies • Indigenous land use agreements • s14 Public consultation • Laid before Parliament

12. Four Zones – adequate? • General Managed Use: • provides protection for habitats and biodiversity • allows environmentally sustainable development • Habitat Protection: • provides protection for habitats and biodiversity • allows activities & uses that do not harm habitats or ecosystems • Sanctuary: • provides protection and conservation for habitats and biodiversity • no removal or harm to plants, animals or marine products • Restricted Access: • managed by limiting access to the area

15. Four Zones – adequate? • Failure to comply with zone: • Offence • Max penalty $100,000 • s21 Compensation to fishers: • Fair and reasonable • Regulations • 5%

16. Enforcement • Authorised officers • Orders: • protection order • reparation order • failure to comply - $10,000 max penalty • may be registered against land • Civil remedies – duty of care • Minister, authorised officer • person whose interests are affected • other person with leave of Court • Regulations: • create offence not >$5,000 • expiation fee - not >$750

17. Is biodiversity protected? • Success depends on: • Management Plans • Zoning: • uses and activities allowed within zones • no take (sanctuary) zones: • target at least 20-30% • Enforcement: • adequate monitoring • adequate penalties

18. Oceans Act?

19. Threats • Coastal Development • Pollution • Resources: • Fishing • Extractive/Mining • Climate Change

20. Great Barrier Reef http://www.talismancoins.com/catalog/Great_Barrier_Reef_Biodiversity.jpg

21. Coral bleaching and dead coral http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/reef3097.jpg http://surftherenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/deadcoral2.jpg

22. Shen Neng 1 Grounded in the Douglas Shoal

23. Shen neng 1 reef damage Diver over grounding scar http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/oil_spill_and_shipping_incidents/shen_neng_1_grounding/shen_neng_1_photo_gallery

24. West Atlas mobile drilling unit burns in the Timor Sea After a failed attempt to plug the leak the rig caught fire http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/galleries/a/-/article/5849058/image/5/timor-sea-oil-and-gas-spill/

25. Timor sea oil spill Some 400-9000 barrels a day of oil leaked into the Timor sea http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/10/26/australias-shame-the-timor-sea-oil-spill-disaster-in-pictures/

26. Moreton Bay oil spill March 2009 Moreton Island, Bribie Island and southern parts of the Sunshine Coast disaster zones after a massive oil spill. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/13/2514943.htm

27. National • Divided between sectors: • Conservation • Resources: • Fisheries • Petroleum • Shipping • Tourism • Divided between jurisdictions: • Commonwealth – beyond 3 mile • State – shore to 3 mile • Territory – shore to 3 mile • Local - impact

28. National - Current legislation • Marine Legislative Review: • Cth & State legislation - >100 reviewed • Review: legislation vs Commonwealth’s Oceans Policy • Issues: • No ecosystem based management • No enforceable marine plans • No coordination across jurisdictions • No overall framework for accountability

29. Management – Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (“EPBC Act”) • s176 – Bioregional plans may include: • Biodiversity objectives • Heritage values • Priorities, strategies and actions to achieve objectives • Community involvement • Review • Not mandatory • No enforcement mechanisms • No integration across sectors • Limited to Commonwealth waters

30. Marine Protected Areas: Limited to locations of little economic interest No protection where economic activity and biodiversity highest Management – Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (“EPBC Act”)

31. Oceans Act? • Propose: • Integrated management approach • Across all sectors • Across all jurisdictions • Not discretionary • Enforcement mechanisms • Integrated: • “to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole” www.dictionary.com • Intergovernmental Agreement: • Joint legislative provision by: • Commonwealth, States, NT

32. Oceans Act? Content • Part 1: Objects including: • eco-system based management involving: • governments • community • oceans-based industry • indigenous peoples • international environmental responsibilities • optimal use of Australia’s ocean resources • duty to consider: • ecologically sustainable development • ecosystem-based management • s8 Objects and principles to be applied

33. Oceans Act? Australian Oceans Commission: • Regional marine plans • Assess and review agencies • Report to parliament • Prepare: • State of Oceans report every 5 years • Oceans policy • Integrate data collection and research • Coordinate funding • Consultation: • Community • Indigenous

34. Oceans Act? Australian Oceans Commission: • Assessment + approval process for marine plan re: • Shipping: • expansion of shipping traffic • scuttling of vessels • Fisheries: • changes in gear and the location • a new fishery targeting a previously untargeted species • commercial and rec fishing management plans • Mining • Marine protected area • Marine bioprospecting • Renewable energy projects • Desalination projects • Dredging or dumping of materials • Construction

35. Oceans Act? Australian Oceans Commission: • Approve management plans of: • Australian Fisheries Management Authority • Australian Maritime Management Authority • Australian Offshore Petroleum Management Authority

36. Oceans Act? Regional Marine Planning • Part 3: Regional Marine Plans: • Further Act’s objects • Zoning • Ecologically sustainable use permissible • Targets • Actions to achieve targets • Review process • Compliance and enforcement process

37. Oceans Act? Regional Marine Planning • Part 3: Marine Protected Areas • Aust Oceans Commission: • Coordinate zoning for NRSMPA (CAR) • Set targets for NRSMPA • Approve management strategies • Aim: • High level protection

38. Oceans Act? Content • Offence/Enforcement: • Failure to comply with marine plan • Failure to refer • Injunction • By Natural Resources Management Council • Any person

39. Summary • Oceans Act – yes: • Integrated management approach • Across all sectors • Across all jurisdictions • Not discretionary • Enforcement mechanisms

40. Thanks Thanks to Richard Cook and Jake Stone for their assistance