Rowley Shoals Marine Park to be enhanced

5/1/04
The State Government has taken steps to ensure the long-term conservation of one of Australia's most pristine marine areas, the Rowley Shoals Marine Park.
A draft management plan for the park was released for public comment today.
Environment Minister Judy Edwards said the plan outlined recommendations to enhance conservation of the marine park's values, as well as plans to extend its existing boundaries.
The Rowley Shoals Marine Park, 200km west-north-west of Broome, currently extends over 21,912ha and includes the Imperieuse and Clerke Reefs and two sandy islands, Cunningham and Bedwell.
"Its waters and the proposed extension are among the most pristine marine environments around the Australian coast and its reef fauna is exceptionally rich and diverse, representing the oceanic coral reef community types characteristic of the Indo-West Pacific Region," Dr Edwards said.
"The biodiversity values of the Rowley Shoals are of global significance and it is a world-renowned dive site."
The Minister said extensions to the Rowley Shoals Marine Park were proposed to ensure that its boundaries, which currently extended only 100m seaward from the reef edge at Clerke and Imperieuse reefs, encompassed all of the ecological values and uses in the area.
"The main strategies recommended for management of the marine park and proposed extensions included education and participation of park users in management, research and monitoring, and zoning for conservation, recreation and general uses," she said.
"The plan proposes that 20,802ha, or 95 per cent, of the existing park will be a sanctuary or 'look but don't-take' zone, with the remainder zoned for recreation.
"The plan also proposes extending the park to a total area of just over 87,500ha. Of the total area, 26 per cent is proposed to be sanctuary zone, 17 per cent recreation zone and 57 per cent zoned for general use.
"The recreation zones will provide priority areas for tourism and recreational activities including diving and recreational fishing. Most of the outer waters of the reefs are proposed to be zoned for general use that will provide access for a range of sustainable commercial and recreational activities.
"The proposed strategies will ensure that human uses of the area do not impact adversely on the pristine environment of the Shoals, guaranteeing the long-term protection of important marine habitats and species."
A joint Department of Conservation and Land Management/Department of Fisheries planning team prepared the draft management plan, on behalf of the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority, with input from the local community and users of the Rowley Shoals.
The plan will be released for a three-month public comment period that closes on April 12, 2004.
Copies of the plan are available from the CALM offices in Kensington, Fremantle and Broome and on the Departments of Conservation and Land Management's website at http://www.naturebase.net
Minister's office - 9220 5050