Minister announces new marine park at Jurien Bay

4/10/00
The State Government's commitment to establishing a world-class marine conservation network has taken a further step with the announcement of the proposed Jurien Bay Marine Park and the release of an indicative management plan.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today said the proposed marine park was the first in a series of new marine conservation reserves which would be created around the State's 12,500km coastline.
The notice and the indicative plan are part of the overall process to create new marine reserves under the Coalition Government's New Horizons policy on marine conservation and management.
Previous steps taken have included a comprehensive assessment of the area's biological and economic resources as well as its social values. A community liaison and advisory committee was established in 1997 to help prepare the indicative management plan in association with the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.
Mrs Edwardes said the indicative management plan - released for a three months public comment period - was a guide as to how the proposed reserve would be managed.
"It provides a framework to conserve and maintain the park's important ecological values, while allowing sustainable recreational and commercial activities to continue," she said.
"The central west coast region is an important area for marine biodiversity, having an unusual mix of tropical and temperate flora and fauna species. The area is also a breeding area for Australian sea lions, has extensive seagrass meadows and exceptionally high water quality.
"It is popular for various marine-based recreational activities and supports a number of important commercial fisheries, including the valuable western rock lobster fishery.
"With the predicted increase in visitors to the region as a result of the planned new coast road that will eventually link all coastal towns between Lancelin and Leeman, pressures on the marine environment are expected to increase.
"The proposal to create a multiple-use marine park will ensure a management framework is in place to provide for the inevitable increases in recreational and commercial use of the area and to ensure these do not impact adversely on the pristine environment of the region."
The proposed Jurien Bay Marine Park is one of five marine conservation reserves the Government has identified as short-term priorities. Others are in the waters around the Dampier Archipelago/Cape Preston area and Montebello/Barrow islands, Geographe Bay/Capes/Hardy Inlet region and the Walpole/Nornalup estuaries. A review of the management plan and extensions to the Ningaloo Marine Park off the North West Shelf are also being considered.
Mrs Edwardes said the main strategies recommended for management of the proposed Jurien Bay park included education of park users, surveillance and enforcement, research and monitoring, public participation and zoning for conservation, recreation and commercial uses.
"The strategies will ensure the long term protection of important marine habitats and biodiversity of marine plants and animals in the park," she said.
"The strategies also aim to reduce conflicts among users and to ensure that the quality and opportunity of recreational experiences in the park are maintained, while at the same time catering for commercial activities such as aquaculture and the western rock lobster fishery."
Mrs Edwardes said the proposed reserve would be the first marine park to be declared under legislative changes passed in 1997. These changes required, among other things, a responsibility to carry out extensive public consultation before a marine conservation reserve was gazetted.
"A crucial part of the proposal's development has been the involvement of the community-based advisory committee which discussed issues such as the reserve's boundaries and the purpose and zoning of the marine park," she said.
"Meanwhile, CALM conducted a broad public participation process to allow community input into the proposal.
"The committee members are to be congratulated on their contribution towards enhancing the conservation of the State's marine ecosystems."
Marine Parks and Reserves Authority chairman Dr Barry Wilson welcomed the announcement of the indicative management plan.
"The authority encourages all interested people to read the plan and to make a submission to CALM," Dr Wilson said.
"In this way, the authority will be able to ensure that the final management will reflect a balanced view as to how the new park will be managed for today's and future generations."
Further information is available by contacting Nigel Sercombe on (08) 9921 5955 or Dr Chris Simpson on (08) 94325100. Copies of the indicative management plan are available from CALM offices in Fremantle, Geraldton, Moora and Cervantes and on CALM's Internet site at http://www.naturebase.net
The submissions for the three-month public comment period should be sent to The Plan Co-ordinator, Jurien Bay Marine Park Indicative Management Plan, Marine Conservation Branch, Department of Conservation and Land Management, 47 Henry St, Fremantle, WA 6160.
Media contacts:
Ministerial - Steve Manchee on 9421 7777
CALM - Andrew Hill on 9432 5100 or -
Nigel Sercombe on 9921 5955