1 Does the Marine Parks Act (SA) 2007 facilitate biodiversity? Do we need an Oceans Act federally?...
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Transcript of 1 Does the Marine Parks Act (SA) 2007 facilitate biodiversity? Do we need an Oceans Act federally?...
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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