Major stakeholders agree on urgent need for marine planning reform



Major WA marine stakeholders all agree that the Carpenter Labor Government has failed to deliver on its promise of regional marine planning for WA. At the last election the then Gallop Labor Government promised to 'develop a comprehensive and integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment through regional marine plans'.



A multi-stakeholder 'Regional Marine Planning Stakeholder Group' established by the Environment Minister reached a significant consensus on the framework for a marine planning system, but the State Government has failed to move forward.



The Wilderness Society's Marine Co-ordinator, Dr Jill StJohn, said, "All attempts at reform were impeded by an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) charged with this task. Clearly the relevant Ministers have lacked the confidence and commitment to have their Directors 'fully-seized' with the intention of government policy.



"The IDC was required to provide advice on a replacement for the Court Government's "New Horizons" Marine Park Policy in the context of a prospective Regional Marine Planning system. This new policy was not produced and the relevant Ministers again failed to see that it was."



Conservation Council Director Piers Verstegen, said that, "Shark, demersal finfish and now rock lobster fisheries are in a very serious decline in Western Australia, due in part to past mismanagement of these fisheries. It is critical that proactive management strategies are now put in place to provide for sustainability under increasing pressures including climate change.



"A multi-sector marine planning process that provides for equitable resource sharing and includes a functional, representative system of fully protected areas is overdue."



Graeme Stewart, from the WA Fishing Industry Council, said that, "All the marine stakeholders were looking for one thing, certainty. The commercial fishing industry needs to know that it can continue into the future with sufficient access to its resource base and not be crowded out by the increasing demands of other sectors."



Frank Prokop, from Recfishwest, said that he, along with the other stakeholders, "Looked forward to the day when government agencies and the community could negotiate a future for WA's State waters in a cooperative framework free from debilitating conflict that has characterized the marine reserve issue. The work and commitment of the State Marine Planning Stakeholder Group suggested that this may be possible given the political will.



"The government should be moving towards an ecosystem-based management approach which allows the key stakeholders to negotiate an agreed outcome."



"We as Stakeholders commit to whichever party wins powers to work together towards the adoption of a marine planning policy that serves the best interests of the State".

Marine Park Planning



Recfishwest have been actively involved in representing the interests of recreational fishers in Marine Park Planning in Western Australia.  As one of the major users of the aquatic environment it is important that needs of recreational fishers are suitably considered in the Marine Park Planning process.



Recfishwest believes the Marine Policy Peak Stakeholders Group (PSG) provides the necessary stakeholder representation to provide an objective assessment of the risks and values to the aquatic environment.  Established Marine Parks in Western Australian do not have performance measures based upon addressing these risks to review their success.  



Recfishwest have been supporters of large scale Wilderness Fishing Areas as a preferred option to establishment of Marine Parks.  They provide wide scale protection of wilderness areas by allowing only low impact fishing.



Recfishwest requests support for;



•    The Marine Policy Peak Stakeholders Group (PSG) to become the primary consultative mechanism for Marine Park Planning.



•    Marine Park Planning and Management be assessed using a risk assessment basis and reviews against objective performance measures.



•    Implement Wilderness Fishing Areas e.g. Abrolhos Islands, Kimberley, Eastern side of Exmouth Gulf.



•    Future Rottnest marine planning to not include new sanctuary zones until such time as efficacy of existing sanctuary zones are independently determined.



•    Undertake specific research into benefits of Jurien Bay scientific reference zones as finfish refuges.



•    Ensure Rottnest trench does not become a sanctuary zone under Commonwealth bio-regional planning.



•    Pilbara Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park plans be deferred indefinitely and realistic trade offs be negotiated with conservation sector for loss of turtle habitat at Barrow Island.  



•    .... Establish Eastern side of Exmouth Gulf as a wilderness fishing area.



•    Ensure World Heritage assessment ensures adequate community input from recreational fishing sector.



•    Commonwealth South Coast Bio-regional Marine Planning to integrate with State Marine Planning processes.

The State election provides an opportunity for all political parties to respond to significant public concern on the environment by committing to urgent and decisive action......



4. Deliver a comprehensive system of marine protected areas through a process of regional marine planning;



Protect Marine Ecosystems. Through scientifically-based Regional Marine Planning, establish a representative system of no-take marine protected areas for WA in line with, at a minimum, the internationally recommended scientific targets of 20-30% for each bioregion by 2012. In addition, strongly support the Federal Government to achieve the same in Commonwealth waters.



Ensure World-Class Environmental Legislation. Introduce a strong (and long promised) Biodiversity Conservation Act to prevent further loss of native species and the ecosystems that they form. Immediately move to significantly increase penalties available under the Environmental Protection Act, introduce civil penalties, and require prosecution in all cases where offences have occurred.