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Environment Movement submission on North Marine Bioregion
13 May 2012
Australia’s tropical North marine bioregion is an icon of global significance. It is one of the last, relatively intact, large tropical
shelf marine ecosystems on the planet. With increasing human pressure on the world’s tropical marine environments,
Australia has a global responsibility to effectively protect the North marine bioregion in a scientifically robust, comprehensive
network of large marine sanctuaries. Properly protected, the region could become an important refugia for icon tropical
species including six of the world’s seven species of threatened sea turtles, globally vulnerable dugongs, and the recently
discovered Australian Snubfin dolphin.
The environment movement is therefore deeply disappointed with the poor initial proposal for the outer boundaries of Marine
Reserves in the North bioregion. With only 14.9% of the entire North bioregion proposed in reserves, the North sits far below
the level of protection slated for other regions, including the South West at 42% and the North West at 35%. Indeed such a
poor proposal in the North presents a real risk that the protection proposed in other bioregions could be whittled back to this
low level.
The Department has argued that because the North is a smaller area, there are less bioregions and less biodiversity to
protect; therefore 15% is an adequate area to reserve. We strongly dispute this claim and know of no evidence to suggest
that the ecology in the North bioregion is more homogenous than other regions.
While the North has only four provincial bioregions (a reflection of its shared evolutionary history) the area is rich in mesoscale bioregions, (which reflect important differences in its contemporary ecology). These meso-scale bioregions are thus a
more appropriate framework for planning marine protection. Despite this, some meso-scale bioregions in the North, such as
Limmen and Groote, have been left totally unprotected in the current proposal. Our submission addresses these omissions
and highlights 13 other critical areas and regions that should be included in sanctuary zones within marine reserves. These
are detailed in following map and table.
Our proposal
As the current proposal to protect less than 15% of the entire North bioregion is so inadequate, the environment movement
believes all the sites proposed on the following map require equally strong protection and should therefore all be included in a
revised proposal that puts 35% of the entire region within marine reserves.
Effective connectivity and proximity of reserves has also been overlooked in the current proposal. This submission addresses
this issue, especially in the Gulf, but also off Arnhem Land and in the Timor Sea. Likewise, the failure to protect a shore to
EEZ transect has been rectified with the inclusion of the Coburg reserve.
The current proposal appears to have been heavily weighted towards protecting the rapidly expanding oil and gas industry in
the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and Van Diemen’s Rise rather than the region’s still intact biodiversity. We therefore propose that
all remaining areas not currently under mineral lease in the Anson Beagle, Bonaparte Gulf and Van Diemen’s Rise be
protected in our proposed Fog Bay and Van Diemen reserves.
Likewise, the destructive nature of trawling on the benthic environment and of trawling, long-lining and gillnetting on marine
biodiversity will continue in extensive regions of the North under the current proposal. Faced with poor resolution NT fisheries
data, the current proposal presents only small reserves with the expectation that commercial fishers would share more
detailed data which will allow reserves to be expanded into areas not valued by fishers, once the Displaced Activity Policy
(DAP) funding was announced.
We consider this to be deeply flawed. The exact opposite approach should have been used – large outer boundaries should
have been presented to encourage fishers to provide detailed data to reshape boundaries to reduce impact on their industry.
Commercial fishers have informed us they are unhappy with the DAP as there were no funds announced with the policy and
so they will not be sharing their data. We now face a lose-lose scenario for all, with little ability to identify areas that are of
limited value to fishers but suitable for inclusion in reserves.
Equally striking in the current proposal for the North is the Government’s failure to engage and respond to the aspirations of
Aboriginal Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory and Queensland Gulf area who have clearly stated their interest in
marine conservation in a range of publicly available Sea Country Plans.
Indeed areas throughout the North, Central and Southern Gulf where Aboriginal people have strong aspirations to manage
their Sea Country appear to have been over-looked for marine reserves. Traditional Owners should be better consulted in this
process and should be considered equal stakeholders alongside conservation and industry groups. We believe that
recognising Aboriginal land rights, native title rights and interests in Sea Country is an important component of achieving a
fair and cooperative approach to marine zoning and protection in Australia.
Current Aboriginal land and sea management initiatives, especially adjacent to Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) and
Aboriginal managed Sea Country in North-east Arnhem Land and adjacent to IPAs, Sea Country and Wild Rivers in
Queensland’s Gulf, provide ideal opportunities to ensure long–term protection of biodiversity and ecological processes. This
proposal therefore identifies a number of sites including Limmen, Groote Staaten, Settlement and Central and Southern Gulf,
which are critical for inclusion in marine reserves.
The current proposal also misses the precious opportunity to complement existing and encourage future State and Territory
Government’s marine conservation efforts. This submission therefore identifies critical areas for protection including Coburg,
which would link the existing Garig Gunak Barlu National Park with the proposed Arafura reserve, as well as Fog Bay which
would link the proposed Van Dieman reserve with Northern Territory Government’s aspirations to create a marine protected
area in the greater Bynoe region. Supporting and linking State and Territory MPA’s with Commonwealth reserves is key to
Australia realising its international commitment to create a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas by
2012.
This submission has been developed by an alliance of Australian environment groups including, but not limited to, the
Wilderness Society Inc, the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Environment Centre NT, World Wildlife Fund for
Nature - Australia, Pew Environment Group, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society
North
Additions
to reserve
network
Area
(sq.
kms)
% of
region
Fog Bay
8,347
1.3%
Cobourg
5,800
0.9%
16,544
2.6%
7,988
1.3%
Van Diemen
Limmen
Notes
1. Critical to establishing adequate protection for the Anson Beagle bioregion (This is the
only part of the bioregion outside oil and gas leases).
2. Critical to establishing adequate protection for the Bonaparte Gulf bioregion (This is
one of the only parts of the bioregion outside oil and gas leases).
3. Encourages and supports NT government to realise plans to create an MPA in the
Greater Bynoe Region.
4. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Wadjigan and Kiuk Traditional owners to
have greater control of Sea Country as outlined in Wadjigan and Kiuk Sea Country Plan.
1. Complements the Northern Territory’s only existing MPA.
2. Critical for establishing adequate protection for the Cobourg bioregion, particularly for
pinnacle habitats.
3. Critical for establishing adequate protection for banks habitats in the Arafura
bioregion.
4. The only location in the North region where a transect can be established from the
coast to the EEZ.
5. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Coburg Peninsula Traditional Owners to
have greater control of Sea Country beyond Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, subject to
free, informed and prior consent.
1. Critical to establishing adequate protection for Van Diemen’s Rise (Contains the only
area that is outside oil and gas leases).
2. Critical for establishing adequate protection within the Oceanic Shoals bioregion
(Contains one of the few parts of the bioregion outside oil and gas leases).
1. One of the most important sites for Dugong in Australia.
2. The lowest cost area where adequate protection of the Pellew bioregion can be
established.
3. One of the lowest cost areas where a sample of the Groote bioregion can be
established.
4. Complementary to the proposed Limmen National Park.
5.. Significant scope to realise the Marrar Traditional Owners aspirations to protect Sea
Country from sea-bed Manganese exploration and possible future mining in Limmen
Bight. Yugul Mangi Sea Rangers could have key role in joint- management of a Limmen
Bight MPA
6. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Yanyuwa Traditional owners to have
greater control of Sea Country as outlined in Barni-Wardinantha Awara Yanyuwa Sea
Country Plan. Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers could have management role in southern
region of a Limmen Bight MPA .
Southern
Gulf
12,942
3.4%
1. One of the lowest cost areas for establishing an adequate sample of the KarumbaNassau bioregion.
2. Critical for the protection of reef habitats in the Karumba-Nassau bioregion.
3. Is offshore from the Mornington Wild River. Freshwater inflows to the gulf are a key
ecological process.
4. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of the Carpentaria Traditional Owners of
land and sea - the Wellesley Islands sea country plan and marine IPA objectives, being
supported by the Carpentaria land council and it's land and sea ranger program, is an
important underpinning for southern Gulf protection and management. The health and
interconnectivity of river, coastal and marine environments is enhanced by the
Carpentaria traditional owner ranger programs and their active support of the wild river
declarations of Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet and Gregory and Staaten Rivers
Crocodile
Islands
3,570
0.6%
Northern
Gulf
21,198
2.1%
Groote
14,601
2.3%
Central Gulf
29,244
4.7%
1Torres
Strait
10,022
1.6%
Staaten
1,537
0.2%
1. Critical for establishing protection for a number of habitats within the Arnhem Wessel
bioregion that are primarily found within state waters.
2. Greatly increase the connectivity of the network. The existing proposals would mean a
distance between MPAs of over 250km in this area. The proposed addition would
reduce this to less than a 100km
2. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Marthakal Traditional owners to have
greater control of Sea Country – Gumurr Marthakal Sea Rangers could have key role in
joint management of a Crocodile Islands MPA
1. Critical for the protection of the unique habitats and assemblages of the north western
gulf.
2. Critical for the protection of pinnacle habitats within the Carpentaria bioregion.
3. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Dhimurru Traditional owners to have
greater control of Sea Country – Dhimuurru Sea Rangers could have key role in joint
management of Southern and of a Northern Gulf MPA
4. Again significant scope to realise the aspirations of Marthakal Traditional owners to
have greater control of Sea Country – Gumurr Marthakal Sea Rangers could have key
role in joint management of a Northern Gulf MPA
1. Is complementary to the IPA at Groote Eylandt.
2. One of the lower cost areas where a sample of the Groote bioregion can be
established.
3. Critical for establishing adequate protection for the unique fauna assemblages of the
central western gulf.
4. Significant scope to realize Anindilyakwa Traditional Owner’s aspirations to protect
Sea Country from sea-bed Manganese exploration and possible future mining off Groote
Island. Anindilyakwa Sea Rangers could have key role in joint management of a Groote
MPA
5. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of Laynhapuy Traditional owners, to have
greater control of Sea Country – Yirralka Sea Rangers could have key role in joint
management of Northern section of a Groote MPA
1. Critical for establishing protection for the unique fauna assemblages of the central
gulf.
2. Is offshore from the Archer Wild River. Freshwater inflows to the gulf are a key
ecological process.
3. The Wik, Wik Waya and Kugu traditional owners of western Cape York Peninsula
have aspirations for the protection and management of their land and sea country. The
interconnectivity of riverine, wetland, coastal and marine environments are important to
the way in which Indigenous environmental values are protected and managed. Wik,
Wik Waya and Kugu objectives including Indigenous protected areas and ranger
programs, are an important underpinning for the central Gulf.
1. Critical for establishing adequate protection for the Torres Strait bioregion which is
mostly outside the NRSMPA planning process.
2. Critical for establishing protection for the unique fauna assemblages of the northeastern gulf.
3. Need to address the extent of rights, interests, and aspirations if any of Kaurareg
traditional owners, in this marine planning region.
1. Is offshore from the Staaten Wild River. Freshwater inflows to the gulf are a key
ecological process.
2. One of the lowest cost areas for establishing an adequate sample of the KarumbaNassau bioregion.
3. See Southern Gulf re Carpentaria interests in Sea Country and Staaten River. Part of
'northern gulf' NRM, with Kowanyama the main Indigenous community in the area.
1. Is offshore from the Settlement Wild River. Freshwater inflows to the gulf are a key
ecological process. Settlement is the only Wild River declared within the Wellesley
bioregion.
2. Significant scope to realise the aspirations of the Carpentaria Traditional Owners of
land and sea - the Wellesley Islands sea country plan and marine IPA objectives, being
supported by the Carpentaria land council and it's land and sea ranger program, is an
important underpinning for southern Gulf protection and management. Recognising
native title rights and interests in Sea Country are an important component of achieving
a fair and cooperative approach to marine zoning and protection.
The health and interconnectivity of river, coastal and marine environments is enhanced
by the Carpentaria traditional owner ranger programs and their active support of the wild
river declarations of Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet and Gregory and Staaten Rivers
Settlement
Wessel
Central
Bonaparte
Basin
1,441
0.2%
1,322
0.2%
4,753
0.8%
1. Critical for establishing protection for a number of habitats within the Arnhem Wessel
bioregion that are primarily found within state waters.
2Again significant scope to realise the aspirations of Marthakal Traditional owners to
have greater control of Sea Country – Gumurr Marthakal Sea Rangers could have key
role in joint management of a Northern Gulf MPA
1. Critical to establishing adequate protection for the Bonaparte Gulf bioregion (This is
one of the only parts of the bioregion outside oil and gas leases).
For further information please contact Jess Abrahams, Northern Marine Campaigner, Australian Marine Conservation
Society, [email protected], ph 0407 043 457