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Does the Marine Parks Act (SA) 2007 facilitate biodiversity?

Do we need an Oceans Act federally?

Ruth Beach, Solicitor

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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

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Leafy Sea Dragon’s habitat

www.abysspictures.com/Documentaries/The%20Vanishing%20Dragon/The_Vanishing_Dragon.html

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Effluent disposal and stormwater run off have destroyed seagrass

• www.abysspictures.com/Documentaries/The%20Vanishing%20Dragon/The_Vanishing_Dragon.html

Habitat?

Threats

• Coastal Development• Pollution• Resources:• Fishing• Extractive/Mining

• Climate Change

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MARINE PARKS ACT

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

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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

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SA Marine Parks

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/coasts/planning.html

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

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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

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Four Zones – adequate?

• Failure to comply with zone:• Offence• Max penalty $100,000

• s21 Compensation to fishers:• Fair and reasonable• Regulations

• 5%

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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

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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

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Oceans Act?

Threats

• Coastal Development• Pollution• Resources:• Fishing• Extractive/Mining

• Climate Change

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Great Barrier Reef

http://www.talismancoins.com/catalog/Great_Barrier_Reef_Biodiversity.jpg

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Coral bleaching and dead coral

http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/bigs/reef3097.jpg http://surftherenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/deadcoral2.jpg

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Shen Neng 1

Grounded in the Douglas Shoal

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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

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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/

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Timor sea oil spill

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/10/26/australias-shame-the-timor-sea-oil-spill-disaster-in-pictures/

Some 400-9000 barrels a day of oil leaked into the Timor sea

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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

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

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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

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Management – Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act (“EPBC Act”)

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• 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

Management – Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act (“EPBC Act”)

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• Marine Protected Areas:• Limited to locations of little economic

interest• No protection where economic activity

and biodiversity highest

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

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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

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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

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Oceans Act? Australian Oceans Commission:

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• 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

Oceans Act? Australian Oceans Commission:

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• Approve management plans of:

• Australian Fisheries Management Authority• Australian Maritime Management

Authority• Australian Offshore Petroleum

Management Authority

Oceans Act? Regional Marine Planning

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• 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

Oceans Act? Regional Marine Planning

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• Part 3: Marine Protected Areas• Aust Oceans Commission:• Coordinate zoning for NRSMPA (CAR)• Set targets for NRSMPA• Approve management strategies

• Aim:• High level protection

Oceans Act? Content

• Offence/Enforcement:• Failure to comply with marine plan • Failure to refer

• Injunction• By Natural Resources Management

Council• Any person

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Summary

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

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Thanks

Thanks to Richard Cook and Jake Stone for their assistance