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Australia’s Oceans Policy:
Ecologically Sustainable
Development in the Marine
Environment
Donna Petrachenko
Marine and Biodiversity Division
Department of the Environment and Water Resources
Australian Government
Overview
Australia’s Ocean’s Policy
Ecologically Sustainable Development in
Australia’s marine area
ESD through Legislation (The EPBC Act)
ESD through Marine Bioregional Planning
Progress on ESD and Contributions to
Other Domestic Marine Environment Policy
Initiatives
Impetus for Oceans Policy
Australia has responsibility for 14 million square
kilometres of ocean
In 2002-03 Australia’s oceans contributed an
estimated AU$70 billion to the Australian
economy, equates to 14% of Australia's GDP.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s experts were
recognising that our oceans are a valuable
resource and that our management of this
resources was inefficient.
Impetus for Oceans Policy
Ocean’s Policy was approved in 1998.
The intention of the policy was to take the whole
range of marine uses and activities across all
maritime sectors in Australia into account and
provide a coordinated approach to management
based on ESD
Jurisdiction and Bioregionalisation
States primary responsibility over
coastal waters from the territorial
baseline out to three nautical miles.
Beyond that boundary, the federal
Australian Government retains
responsibility.
These cooperative arrangements are
reflected in relevant federal, state and
territory legislation.
Australia’s Oceans Policy
“Healthy oceans: cared for, understood and used wisely for
the benefit of all, now and in the future”
Key Objectives:
– Maintenance of healthy and productive ecosystems
– Science-based planning and management
– Delivering ecologically sustainable development through
integrated planning and management
Ecologically Sustainable Development
(ESD) in Australia
‘using, conserving and enhancing the
community’s resources so that ecological
processes, on which life depends, are
maintained, and the total quality of life, now
and in the future, can be increased’
(National Strategy for ESD, 1992)
ESD and National Marine Related
Legislation
Fisheries Management Act 1991 (FMA 1991)
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967
Environment Protection and Biodiversity and
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
Cornerstone of legislation.
Minister for the Environment makes decisions.
Minister must take ESD into account in approval decisions:
– Environmental,
– Economic,
– Social, and
– Equitable.
Domestic Action:
Marine Bioregional Plans
Defining the “E” in ESD.
Providing a legislative pivot for
conservation and sustainable
development in Australia’s oceans.
Providing the policy legislative teeth
and establishing clear direction for
sectoral managers and industry about
the key conservation issues and
priorities in each marine region.
Provide greater certainty for industry
EP
BC
Ac
t
s.1
7
6
Domestic Action:
Marine Bioregional Plans continued…..
Contains provisions about any or all of the following:
the components of biodiversity, their distribution and conservation status;
important economic and social values;
heritage values of places;
objectives relating to biodiversity and
other values;
priorities, strategies and actions to
achieve the objectives;
mechanisms for community
involvement in implementing the plan;
measures for monitoring and reviewing
the plan.
s.176, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Domestic Action:
Marine Protected Areas
MBPs will be the primary mechanism for identification of representative
MPAs
– National principles given effect through “Regional MPA Specifications”
in each Bioregional Profile.
– Profile data sets inform selection of candidate MPAs.
– “First cut” MPA network in the draft Marine Bioregional Plan.
– Final version with full socio-economic data delivered in the Final Marine
Bioregional Plan.
– Industry involvement is key to success.
ESD and Industry:
Sustainable Fisheries
The implementation of the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) means
that the Australian Government can now play a stronger
role in promoting ecologically sustainable management of
fisheries and assessing their environmental performance.
Australia is continuing to conduct periodic assessment of
fisheries against the Australian Government Guidelines for
the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries to
ensure the moves towards ecosystem based management of
Australia’s fisheries continue.
ESD and Industry:
Oil and Gas
Important to Australia’s economy
– In 2004/05 mineral and petroleum exports $68.3 billion,
54% of the total value of Australia’s exports of goods
and services
Almost 80 pieces of legislation potentially affect
the petroleum industry’s environmental
management planning
Environmental Impact Statements provide basis of
environmental management strategy
ESD and Industry:
Shipping
Progress is being made in the implementation of Australia‘s National
System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
– ballast water management arrangements consistent with the International
Convention on the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and
Sediments;
– biofouling guidelines for most types of vessels, strategies for pest
monitoring, communications and awareness, research and development
and evaluation and review;
– six marine pest species for which national control plans will be developed.
– Progress is being made in the implementation of Australia‘s National
System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was the first ‘Particularly
Sensitive Sea Area’ designated by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO).
In closing
ESD involves marine environmental, economic and social
factors in all decisions.
Marine governance frameworks (institutional and policy) need
to facilitate integration.
All costs and benefits need to be taken into account.
Ensure equity within and between generations.
Use resources prudently
Value and protect marine ecological integrity and biodiversity.
Whole of government approaches are required.
Thank you