|
Consensus Statement To sign on to support the consensus statement please contact us The Marine Sanctuaries in NSW Consensus Statement has been developed
by the NSW Saltwater Environment Alliance (SEA) and is supported
by a range of groups and individuals who are working together for
a better protected, managed and healthier NSW marine environment. Marine sanctuaries are areas in the sea that are strictly protected from extractive uses such as mining and fishing but allow for non-extractive uses including recreation - diving, snorkelling, boating, surfing, swimming - research, education and tourism. In NSW, the prevailing environmental conditions, the mixing of sub-tropical waters, warm temperate waters and cool-temperate waters along the coastline, have created a unique coastal and offshore seascape. This has provided NSW with a rich natural and cultural resource that is enjoyed by millions of people. NSW marine ecosystems and the biodiversity they support are under serious threat from past mismanagement, over-extraction and future impacts, including human induced climate change. With less than 3% of NSW waters in marine sanctuaries, protection of our marine environment significantly lags behind that offered to land based plants and animals. We have a responsibility to reverse the already visible decline of our marine environment and its inhabitants and ensure that the fragile marine habitats of NSW are appropriately protected. All will benefit from a better-protected and healthier marine environment. "The future of the world's oceans - and
ultimately of ourselves - The supporting groups believe: The NSW marine environment is an important part of Australia's unique southeast marine region. The majority of marine species found in the region (some 80%) are endemic (not found anywhere else in the world). The main reason for declaring a system of marine sanctuaries is to help protect the integrity, quality and function of the marine ecosystems that exist along the NSW coastline. Marine sanctuaries can also play an important role in maintaining the lifestyles and ensuring the economic prosperity of coastal communities. Within the context of a multiple use marine park system, marine sanctuaries allow for equitable use of our unique marine environment. There is international agreement on the importance of protecting
our marine environment through the creation of marine sanctuaries.
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) recognises a minimum of 20-30%
of each marine habitat should be strictly protected. More than 1600
scientists and conservationists have backed a call for at least
20% of the seas to be protected from fishing by the year 2020 (Troubled
Waters: A Call to Action, Consensus Statement 1998) .The Pew Institute
for Ocean Management recognized as much as 50% of each ecosystem
should be placed in marine sanctuaries. In addition to a CAR system of marine sanctuaries, additional marine sanctuaries should also be established for special purposes such as to protect iconic areas, natural features, culturally important sites, and threatened or vulnerable marine species or ecosystems. A statewide network of marine sanctuaries should be established simultaneously and without further delay and before any further potentially harmful extraction activities are permitted in prospective marine sanctuaries. Marine sanctuaries should be established based on sound scientific principles using an independent scientific expert based process. The network of marine sanctuaries can be declared under the existing Marine Parks Act, 1997. An independent expert-based process should be established to assess commercial fishers' eligibility and claims for assistance in adjusting to the implementation of marine protected areas. This should be part of an open and transparent stakeholder process. We the undersigned groups request our New South Wales politicians, as a matter of urgency, to: Publicly declare prescriptive and realistic timeframes for the simultaneous establishment of a statewide system of marine sanctuaries. This system should be comprehensive, adequate and representative and encompass a minimum of 20-50% of NSW marine waters by 2010 - in line with the declarations made by South Australia and Tasmania Governments and in order to meet Australia's international commitments. Provide adequate resources to support independent, science based assessment, implementation and monitoring of marine sanctuaries and marine parks, including baseline scientific surveys. Ensure areas that are being considered for marine sanctuaries are
protected from targeted exploitation prior to their establishment.
Immediately provide educational resources to increase community awareness, support and understanding of the need for marine sanctuaries and marine parks; and to work to correct the many misconceptions being promoted in the community about the role of marine parks. Work collaboratively with the Australian Government to establish complementary marine sanctuaries and marine parks between the 3nm state limit and the 200nm limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Work towards legislation that will allow public nominations of additional marine sanctuaries to be received at any time, and be formally assessed and responded to by the NSW Government. To sign on to
support the consensus statement please contact
us |