Marine Reserve plans
floated for comment

The Director of National Parks has released draft management plans for five new Commonwealth Marine Reserves for public comment.
   The Government established the new Commonwealth marine reserves in November to protect Australia’s marine ecosystems and habitats and members of the public have been given 30 days to comment on the proposed management of the South-west, North-west, North, Coral Sea and Temperate East reserves.
   The management plans will then be finalised and given to the Minister for Environment, Tony Burke, for consideration.
National Parks to collate responses
   Spokesman, Stephen Oxley, for the Director of National Parks, said the objective of the draft management plans was to ensure the protection and conservation of biodiversity and other natural and cultural values in the marine reserves.
   “The draft management plans set out how the marine reserves will be managed and what activities can and cannot take place in the reserves over the next 10 years,” Mr Oxley said.
   “While the management plans for the new reserves are being developed, transitional arrangements are in place that maintain current arrangements for commercial and recreational users of the marine reserves.”
   He said they were aiming to have the management plans for the new Commonwealth marine reserve networks finalised by the middle of the year, before they were due to come into effect in July 2014.
   “Until then, there will be no “on the water” changes for users in the new areas added to the Commonwealth reserve estate,” Mr Oxley said.
   Submissions to the plan close on 14 February.
   The draft management plans can be accessed at this PS News link.
Edition 344F, 18 January 2013
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