Photo © Meg GreenThe recently released Federal Government draft bioregional marine plan for north Australia’s commonwealth waters has failed to deliver adequate protection for marine wildlife. With less than 3 percent of the northern waters to be protected in marine sanctuaries – Wildlife Queensland questions if this new plan is aimed at protecting wildlife or the future for extractive industries?
On 23rd August the Federal Government released the draft plan for the north marine bioregion. This plan failed to produce large marine sanctuaries in the north of Australia leaving numerous rare and threatened species at risk from threats of fishing, oil and gas exploration and other extractive industries. On the same day the draft north-west marine bioregional plan was released which was also far from adequate. Wildlife Queensland is extremely concerned that the Federal Environment Minister, Hon Tony Burke, has ignored the strong scientific support for marine sanctuaries and is prioritising the interests of the resource sector and commercial fisheries. There is a need to find a balance between development and protection of the marine environment.
While the lack of protection reflected in the draft plan is extremely disappointing for north Australia’s commonwealth waters at least there is a draft. In spite of lobbying the Queensland State Government for protection of the state waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria Wildlife Queensland still has not seen even a draft plan. Wildlife Queensland is aware that the State Government is undertaking marine planning in these waters but we are yet to see a result. Perhaps the controversy around marine protected areas and the fact that we have an up coming election is delaying action.
The north marine bioregion stretches from the Northern Territory-Western Australia border to Cape York in Queensland and includes all Commonwealth waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea. Theses waters are extremely diverse and many of their ecological features are found nowhere else in Australia or even the world. This area contains a diverse range of habitats including coral reefs, tidal estuaries, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, extensive wetlands and beautiful beaches. These habitats support an amazing array of marine wildlife including many nationally protected species and globally significant populations of dugongs, sea turtles, dolphins and migratory birds. However the draft plan fails to recognise the ecological significance of this area and delivers less than 3 per cent protection under marine sanctuaries. Some protection has been granted along the Queensland coast in areas such as the Wellesley Islands and Western Cape both of which Wildlife Queensland has been lobbying the Government to protect. However this protection is far from adequate.
The community now has until 28 November to tell Tony Burke that Australia's northern marine life deserve greater protection. The Federal Government must develop a comprehensive network of large marine sanctuaries. This network must be based on scientific best practise and ensure the protection of all biodiversity values for the region.
Wildlife Queensland will submit comments on the draft. Further information to assist with your submission will be made available via our website.
More information
To access the draft plans and for further information on the Federal Governments bioregional marine planning process visit their website.
Federal Marine Planning
State Marine Planning
For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email. |
