07/06/2005 - Australia's
world leadership in ocean management and protection
has been highlighted on the eve of World Oceans
Day (Wednesday, 8 June) by the Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell.
Senator Campbell said the Government's strong
action on whale protection is just one example
of Australia's international leadership on
marine environmental issues.
"Australia's world leadership in the
protection and sustainable management of our
marine territory has been evident from our
work with the international community for
a global and permanent ban on commercial whaling,
the greatly increased protection of the Great
Barrier Reef and the Government's pioneering
program of Regional Marine Planning,"
Senator Campbell said.
"With one of the world's largest ocean
jurisdictions, Australia has set an example
for other countries in how to sustainably
manage our marine resources in the interests
of future generations."
Senator Campbell said while there was still
much work to do, he was proud of the Australian
Government's achievements in the marine environment,
including:
• The protection of corals, fish, turtles,
dugong and other marine species of the Great
Barrier Reef, lifting "no take"
zones from 4.5 per cent of the Marine Park
to 33.3 per cent, and a Reef Water Quality
Protection Plan – underpinning the reef's
$4.3 billion tourism industry, and commercial
and recreational fishing industries. The Government
continues to support commercial fishermen
and others affected by the changes through
a $56.3 million structural adjustment package.
• The declaration of six new Marine Protected
Areas since 1996, increasing the marine protected
area estate by approximately 68 per cent since
1996, including the Great Australian Bight
Marine Park, Tasmanian Seamounts Marine Reserve,
Macquarie Island Marine Park, Lord Howe Island
Marine Park, Cartier Island Marine Reserve,
and Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine
Reserve.
• The development of a world-first Oceans
Policy and creation of the National Oceans
Office, which will deliver integrated Regional
Marine Plans across our 14 million square
kilometre ocean territory.
• The development of recovery plans for Australia's
threatened marine species (including threatened
whales, seabirds, seals, turtles and sharks)
that identify the key threats to each of the
species and identify actions to ensure ongoing
recovery.
• Leadership in the protection of migratory
marine species such as turtles and albatross
by developing and promoting regional and global
action under the auspices of the Convention
for Migratory Species and on International
Trade in Endangered Species.
• Working across Government to combat introduced
marine pests including the introduction of
mandatory controls on the ballast water of
international shipping and a new emergency
network to respond to marine pest incursions.
Development of a Threat Abatement Plan for
the impacts of harmful marine debris on threatened
wildlife. The Government has also installed
160 gross pollution traps capturing urban
debris and 23 waste reception projects in
seaports and marinas as well as funding a
$2 million clean-up of beaches in the Gulf
of Carpentaria.
Combating illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing and working with other responsible
nations to attack the problem on-the-water
and in ports. Australia urges countries to
ratify and implement key international agreements
and instruments; and to control and monitor
the operations and activities of the vessels
they flag, their ports and their nationals
to ensure they operate in a responsible manner
and in accordance with international law.
The assessment of management arrangements
for all Commonwealth fisheries and all state
fisheries exporting product by the Minister
for the Environment and Heritage to ensure
ecologically sustainable management of Australia's
fisheries.
"As the international community focuses
on challenges for the marine environment on
World Oceans Day, Australian can be proud
of its achievements," Senator Campbell
said.
