Marine Park could be established off Jurien Bay

3/1/97

Environment Minister Peter Foss today announced that Western Australia's next marine park could be established off Jurien Bay.

Mr Foss said an advisory committee would shortly be established to consider the proposal to create a multiple-use marine reserve at Jurien to protect the conservation, recreation, commercial and tourism values of the area.

A management plan for the future of Jurien Bay's diverse marine and island habitats and the importance of its aquaculture, tourism and fishing industries was also necessary.

"A multiple-use marine reserve will protect and conserve the area's marine life while catering to local community interests such as fishing, aquaculture and tourism," the Minister said.

"It will ensure an equitable balance between the conservation of the marine environment and the access to and use of marine resources."

Mr Foss said the Ministers for Fisheries and Mines had agreed for the proposal to be investigated.

The advisory committee would comprise of members with a range of different interests in the area including local government, professional and recreational fishing, aquaculture, conservation, tourism, recreation, the local community and State Government agencies.

The Department of Conservation and Land Management would soon approach the various stakeholders to establish the committee.

"The committee will consider the merits of the proposal as well as appropriate marine reserve boundaries, proposed zoning and management strategies to ensure that all usage requirements are properly accommodated before a park is gazetted," Mr Foss said.

He said the proposal to create a marine park at Jurien followed a recommendation in the Marine Parks and Reserves Selection Working Group's report A Representative Marine Reserve System for Western Australia (the Wilson Report).

The Jurien Bay marine area is part of an extensive limestone reef system that stretches approximately 300kms from Dongara to Trigg, off the northern metropolitan coastline.

"The reef system is the longest, continuous temperate barrier reef system in Australia with an unusually diverse range of wildlife," Mr Foss said.

"A broadscale marine biological survey of the coastal area between Cervantes and Dongara will be carried out later this month by the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Marine Conservation Branch.

"The survey will cover more than 250 sites and give an accurate measure of the types of marine flora and fauna in those coastal waters.

"The information will assist the advisory committee's consideration of management zones and strategies for the Jurien Bay proposal."

Mr Foss said CALM had already started informing the community of the proposal and was encouraging public comment.

An information stall about the proposed Jurien Bay marine reserve was set up and manned by CALM officers at a marine expo in the region last October.

"Feedback from this and from various briefings with fishing, tourism and aquaculture organisations has been very positive," the Minister said.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300 or Kieran McNamara 442 0302