Premier releases management plan for Carnac Island

4/10/03
Premier Geoff Gallop today released the management plan for Carnac Island Nature Reserve, located 10km south-west of Fremantle.
Dr Gallop said the plan would guide future conservation management of the special island - a popular spot for the Australian sea lion, one of the world's rarest seal species.
"Carnac Island is a jewel in Perth's marine coastal environment that contains significant environmental values," he said.
"It is an important site for male Australian sea lions, which use the island as a haul-out area during the non-breeding season, and is also a nesting habitat for birds such as little penguins, wedge-tailed shearwaters, pied cormorants, pied oystercatchers and terns.
"It is also home to a significant population of tiger snakes."
Dr Gallop said Carnac Island was a popular nature-based tourism destination, due to the natural attractions and its close proximity to Perth.
"Carnac is a well-known and popular spot for fishing, as the eastern side of the island provides sheltered anchorage for commercial and recreational boats," he said.
"This plan is all about striking the right balance between providing access for recreation and tourism while protecting the island's unique natural values and inhabitants.
"While the presence of tiger snakes and Australian sea lions are an attraction to visitors to the island, they also pose potential threats, as do the island's steep, undercut limestone cliffs, which can be fragile."

Environment Minister Judy Edwards said the Department of Conservation and Land Management had taken these concerns into account when preparing the draft management plan, released for public comment in December 2001.
Twenty-two public submissions were received on the draft plan and were considered by the department's planning team and the community-based Carnac Island Advisory Committee.
Dr Edwards said the final management plan detailed several strategies to address these concerns and to help protect the island's conservation values.
"The department has developed guidelines for sea lion interaction to ensure the safety of visitors and to minimise disturbance to the animals," she said.
"The plan also allows access to the island's main beach but incorporates a small visitor exclusion zone to allow sea lions a sanctuary area.
"Access to the beach will continue to be limited to day-use only with a ranger present during peak visitor times where possible.
"While restricting access should help manage visitor impact, it may become necessary during the life of the plan to restrict visitor numbers to the island. Restrictions on the number of people commercial tour operators can bring to the island are already in place."
Other issues covered in the draft plan include management programs for weeds, fire and commercial operations.
"The main aim of the plan is to ensure Carnac Island remains relatively undisturbed and undeveloped so that the visibility of its wildlife, in particular sea lions and seabirds, continues to be an attraction," Dr Edwards said.
Premier's office: 9222 9475
Environment Minister's office: 9220 5050