South Australia’s Jewels in the Crown

Our new marine sanctuaries under threat

Introduction

A bill has been put forward by the State Opposition which would remove 12 marine sanctuaries from South Australia’s new Marine Park network due to come into effect on 1 October 2014.

Marine sanctuaries are safe havens for fish and other marine life, in which commercial and recreational fishing aren’t allowed. They are like national parks, areas that protect habitat for threatened species, and can be significant tourist drawcards. Many are also important feeding and breeding areas for whales, seals, shore and seabirds and many fish species.

The bill before parliament, the Marine Parks (Sanctuary Zones) Amendment Bill, would downgrade protection in these areas which would allow extractive activities including both commercial and recreational fishing.

Front cover image: Pearson Island. Credit: Greg James. All images courtesy of the SA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources unless otherwise specified.

These marine sanctuaries are the ‘jewels in the crown’ of your new Marine Parks network.

Just 6 percent of SA’s waters will be sanctu-ary zones in the new Marine Parks network. However, if the Opposition’s bill passes just 4% will be.

We think South Australia’s extraordinary and unique marine life deserves more than this.

On 18 September, the bill will be voted on. The next few weeks are critical ones.

Please add your voice in support of our unique marine life.

Thank you.

For a map of the areas at risk: www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/SA

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Australian sea lions: South Australia Department of Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)

This is an important breeding colony for the Australian sea lion and the short-tailed shearwater. Eighty-five percent of all Australian sea lions live in SA. The females return to their birth place to breed, with many breeding colonies of small sizes all along the SA coast line!

These waters are biologically unique to South Australia due to the influence of the Leeuwin Current. They are a biodiversity hotspot.

This marine sanctuary protects a remote, large, complex reef ecosystem in good ecological condition.

Nuyts Reef Sanctuary (Nuyts Archipelago Marine Park)

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Western Blue Groper: DEWNR

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Isle of St Francis has outstanding conservation significance. It is irreplaceable, a “jewel in the crown” of the new network and has the potential to be a huge tourist drawcard - SA’s Ningaloo!

It is a remote (~45km offshore) chain of offshore islands in the Nuyts Archipelago Wilderness Protection Area.

The area is acclaimed by marine scientists as a ‘biodiversity hotspot’ - outstanding variety of fish species and habitats supporting numerous conservation listed mammals, birds and fish such as the Western Blue Groper and Blue Devil Fish.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Isle of St Francis Sanctuary (Nuyts Archipelago Marine Park)

Blue Devil Fish: DEWNR

The Western Blue Groper are all born female and change their sex later in life. They can grow to 1.7m, weigh up to 40kg and live for 70 years!

Blue Gropers undergo their sex change at around 30-35 years of age - one reason it’s so important their habitat is protected.

They are an iconic species for divers which means marine sanctuaries like this one have enormous growth potential for nature-based tourism.

Beautiful Pearson Island: Greg Adams

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The Pearson Islands Group are visually spectacular and of outstanding conservation significance with unique fish, coral and sponges. Bottlenose and common dolphins frequent the area. They are another jewel in the crown of the new marine parks network. The islands are very remote (~60km offshore) and represent nature at its wildest.

They are an Australian sea lion breeding area. The islands have enormous nature-based tourism potential and have been described as “equivalent to the Galapagos” by visiting eco-tourists.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Pearson Islands Group Sanctuary (Investigator Marine Park)

All photos: Greg Adams

Northern Giant Petrel: Paul Wainwright.

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This marine sanctuary conserves a whole ecosystem from Salt Creek Estuary to deep waters.

It is a nursery ground for fish of recreational and commercial importance such as the King George Whiting. The iconic Leafy seadragon inhabits the inshore seagrass beds.

The area also provides habitat for migratory shorebird species protected under international treaties like the Northern Giant Petrel.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Salt Creek Sanctuary (Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park)

Seagrass is vital habitat for many species: Clay Bryce

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Another jewel in the crown. North Neptune Island is of global significance for great white sharks. This is where Ron and Valerie Taylor spent so much of their time as, first, shark hunters then marine and shark conservationists.

“The Neptunes” supports a unique and growing ecotourism industry in shark cage diving, providing a boost to the Port Lincoln economy. Globally, shark watching tourist numbers have increased by 27% a year over the last two decades!

It is a very important pupping site in SA for Australian sea lions and supports many protected bird species. This sanctuary also removes longling shark fishing.

North Neptune Island Sanctuary(Neptune Islands Group (Ron & Valerie Taylor) Marine Park)

Photos on this page: Valerie Taylor

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This area is critically important to the ecology of the whole of Gulf St Vincent. It protects vital nursery, breeding, feeding and possible spawning habitat for many fish species of commercial and recreational importance.

It also provides vital habitats for protected migratory shorebirds. This sanctuary zone was a high priority supported by both environment groups as well as the recreational fishing sector.

This sanctuary zone mainly removes commercial net fishing ensuring vital fish stocks are protected and able to be replenished.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Clinton Wetlands Sanctuary (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park)

Tidal samphire wetlands are an important part of the coastal ecosystem providing food and habitat for many important species.

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The dense seagrass meadows of the Bay provide critically important nursery habitats for King George whiting and many other species of recreational and commercial importance, including South Australia’s marine emblem, the Leafy Seadragon. They also protect habitat for seabirds and migratory shorebirds.

Encounter Marine Park’s other zones provide for recreational fishing, such as the popular channel area, but removes commercial net fishing. Due to its significance as a fish nursery, this zone was endorsed by commercial line fishers.

Bay of Shoals Sanctuary(Encounter Marine Park)

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This marine sanctuary protects the North Pages Island, part of the third largest breeding colony for the vulnerable Australian sea lion and of critical importance for this species. It also supports the great white shark and seabirds.

It is in a very remote location, meaning it has very little impact on recreational and commercial fishing.

Fishing access has also been provided for at South Pages Island, as agreed with the community.

The Pages Sanctuary(Encounter Marine Park)

White pointer: Mark Conlin

Western Blue Devil Fish

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This is a unique area of high conservation significance. It is only one of two deep trenches in SA waters, supporting incredible gardens of giant sponges and associated flora and fauna.

This marine sanctuary displaces minimal recreational fishing and commercial longline fishing while protecting important biodiversity.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Sponge Gardens Sanctuary(Encounter Marine Park)

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Rapid Head is a great dive site where dozen of playful seals frolic. It includes a vertical wall between 6-8m deep with an abundance of fish life. Also part of this marine sanctuary is Rapid Bay Jetty, known as the best jetty dive in Australia, where protected leafy seadragons abound.

The marine sanctuary conserves a regionally important ecological ‘stepping stone’ linking larvae from gulf waters with open southern ocean waters.

It is also a priority site for monitoring, with historical baseline information available.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Rapid Head Sanctuary(Encounter Marine Park)

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This area is of outstanding conservation significance, yet another jewel in the crown of the new network.

It is an area known for its natural beauty, backed by wilderness, national parks and some of the highest coastal cliffs in Australia.

This marine sanctuary will have minimal impact on commercial lobster fishing and recreational fishing, yet its protection was a high priority for scientists and conservationists.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Cape Borda Sanctuary(Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park)

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This marine sanctuary is adjacent to the internationally renowned Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks in the Flinders Chase National Park, viewed by tens of thousands tourists each year. The waters are teeming with life including the western blue groper, harlequin fish and western blue devil.

It is one of only two known South Australian breeding sites for Australian fur seals.

This marine sanctuary removes commercial lobster and abalone fishing. A significant reduction in size was made to the sanctuary zone in the final plan to minimise the impact on these fisheries. It was reduced from the 84 sq km in the draft plan to 28 sq km in the final plan.

Short-tailed Shearwater: Paul Wainwright

Cape de Couedic Sanctuary(Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park)

August 2014