Jurien Bay Marine Park success marked by growing support

19/3/06
The Jurien Bay Marine Park has attracted more than $1million in funding from external research bodies since its creation by the State Government in August 2003, Environment Minister Mark McGowan announced this week.
Mr McGowan said growing community support and increased funding, research and monitoring had marked the success of the park, which encompassed the waters of the Turquoise Coast for 100km between Wedge Island and Green Head.
The Minister said funding had come from a variety of sources including:

• the Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment (SRFME), a joint State and Commonwealth initiative, focussed on studying ecosystem function and oceanography;

• the Natural Heritage Trust, which had provided $350,000 for the central west coast and Jurien Bay Marine Park;

• the University of Tasmania, which had spent more than $250,000 on marine biodiversity surveys and a study into the effectiveness of marine parks across the whole of southern Australia; and

• the State Government, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management, had also invested more than $250,000 into research and monitoring in the marine park over three years.

"This interest has boosted community support for research, including increased support from commercial fishers," Mr McGowan said.
The Minister said the Jurien Bay Marine Park was the first marine park declared in Western Australia since 1990. It had been designed to protect and preserve the unique features of the area and encourage nature-based recreation and tourism.
Long-term management and the sustainable use of the coastal environment was vital for the future of tourism in WA.
"Jurien Bay Marine Park incorporates 36 islands which are grouped into 12 island nature reserves between Lancelin and the Beagle Islands north of Leeman, one of the most biologically diverse areas in WA," Mr McGowan said.
"Nature-based tourism is growing at an enormous rate with many thousands of people visiting the State's Mid-West coast area each year, so we need to ensure that water quality remains pristine into the future."
The Minister said an extensive education campaign had been conducted to highlight the importance of the sanctuary and special purpose zones in the park and legislation required to enforce the zoning scheme was now in place.
"Biological research is also being undertaken to examine the long-term benefits of the zoning scheme in the park - part of an Australia-wide study into the effectiveness of marine protected areas," he said.
A community advisory committee will be established in the coming months to facilitate community input into the ongoing management of the marine park.
Minister's office: (08) 9222 9111