The Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park: A major step forward -- but some key sites left out
20 Oct 2004
Brisbane, Australia - The Queensland Government has announced the new Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, stretching 2300 kilometres along the Reef coastline and boosting protection for inshore areas, particularly in the north.
However, in an obvious concession to the fishing industry the Marine Park fails to protect some of the most biologically important inshore sites in the southern and central areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
"The overall impact of the new Marine Park is positive for conservation, however there are specific cases where it fails to provide protection for a range of significant sites such as Missionary Bay," said Richard Leck, WWF-Australia's National Marine and Coastal Policy Officer.
Missionary Bay, a part of the globally-renowned wilderness area of Hinchinbrook Island, is one of the most important dugong habitats in the southern Great Barrier Reef and also provides refuge for a number of turtle species. The original Marine Park proposal has been severely compromised by allowing for an expanded level of commercial fishing in Missionary Bay. This contravenes the intentions of the recently implemented Commonwealth zoning plan.
"This is significant because dugong numbers in the southern Great Barrier Reef, south of Cooktown, appear to be about 3% of that present in the early 1960s. Commercial fishing in important dugong habitat, such as Missionary Bay, increases the potential for boat-strike, entanglement in fishing gear and other source of mortality for these vulnerable animals," said Ingrid Neilson, AMCS National Project Officer.
Aside from Missionary Bay, WWF-Australia and AMCS are concerned about changes made by the Queensland Government to the level of protection in another four key sites:
- Cleveland Bay and Bowling Green Bay, near Townsville
- Broadsound and Shoalwater Bay, south of Mackay
"We are concerned that the Queensland Government has set a precedent with the concessions made to commercial and recreational fishing interests. The Queensland Government should further commit to protecting the Great Barrier Reef's inshore species and habitats from the full range of threats they face," Mr Leck said.
The Queensland and Commonwealth Governments are jointly responsible for managing the Great Barrier Reef. Recently, the Commonwealth Government set a global benchmark in marine conservation by implementing a zoning plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that protects more than 33% of the Park from commercial and recreational fishing.
The management of the coastal areas along the Great Barrier Reef is the responsibility of the Queensland Government. Therefore, these areas are not included in the Commonwealth zoning plan.
Media inquiries:
Richard Leck, WWF-Australia 07 3839 2677 Mobile 0439 814 847
Ingrid Neilson, AMCS, 07 3848 5235 Mobile 0421 972 731
Andy Ridley, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 9281 5515 Mobile 0415 865 992
