Marine sites to be studied before protection declared

by Peter Hannam on 23 Dec 2014 A year-long study to begin early in 2015 into new conservation areas for the Sydney region could lead to the creation of marine protection parks in an area stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong.

The 11 sites in the Hawkesbury Shelf bioregion to be monitored in the study announced by the Baird government, include parts of Sydney Harbour, Broken Bay, Botany Bay and Port Hacking.

Environment Minister Rob Stokes said the research at these priority sites would 'inform decision making about the creation of an integrated marine protected area along the metro coast by 2016'.

But Luke Foley, Labor's environment spokesman, said the necessary research had been done and the ALP would establish a Sydney Marine Park from Pittwater to Port Botany if elected to government at next March's elections.
'It's a question of political will,' Mr Foley said. 'The fact is the Nationals won't allow Rob Stokes to create a marine park around Sydney.

However, Mr Stokes said people needed to be consulted first.

'The last thing we want is for the community to be surprised by the creation of a marine park,' Mr Stokes said. 'Success is when [marine protected areas] have long-term legitimacy with the local community.'

Sites to be studied in the Sydney region include the Manly Wharf area in the north harbour, where a reserve may be extended to protect a nearby fairy penguin colony, Mr Stokes said.

The research may also lead to an extension of marine protection at Coogee, with the potential for more sites to be added to the 11 in the future, he said.

Most of the 11 sites are aquatic reserves with varying degrees of protection for fish and other species.
By contrast, marine protected areas typically involve much tighter monitoring and enforcement of human activities in a bid to conserve ecosystems under threat.

A 2012 independent expert report for the O'Farrell government identified the Hawkesbury Shelf as one of two main gaps in the state's marine biodiversity protection.

'I would welcome an evidence-based marine protection planning process,' Emma Johnston, a director at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, said. But she said it was disappointing that they were not announcing a decision to start the process, with a verdict put off until at least early 2016.

'This region is one of the most highly populated coastal zones in the country and competing uses need to be managed so as to minimise social conflict and ecological impacts,' Professor Johnston said.

Daisy Barham, campaigns director of the Nature Conservation Council, said the government had opted to delay the decision.

'The government knows protecting our marine life is popular yet they still can't build the courage to restore protection to the marine sanctuaries we already have across the state,' Ms Barham said.

'More science is always welcome, yet what really matters for our marine life and those who love the ocean, is action,' she said.

Mehreen Faruqi, the Greens spokeswoman for marine issues, welcomed the plan to gather more science ahead of a potential expansion of conservation zones but said the same logic should apply to ending the no-take 'amnesty' allowing shore-based recreational fishing in existing protected areas.

'Use the science that is already there and wind back the amnesty,' Ms Faruqi said.

Mr Stokes said 'there would be more to be said' about the amnesty issue, but declined to elaborate.

Premier Mike Baird has said publicly that he was opposed to the amnesty and it is understood that a decision to resume the ban on fishing in 'no take' areas has been made.

The study of the 11 sites will be overseen by the Marine Estate Management Authority with input from the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.

'It is important we continue to work to achieve a balance of social, economic and ecological needs when considering our marine estate,' Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, said.

'There is no doubt that Sydney Harbour is an iconic and special place, but it is also a functional and working harbour,' she said.