Solitary Islands Marine Park Zoning Review

02-Aug-2010
The Marine Parks Authority is encouraging people interested in the Solitary Islands Marine Park to comment on proposed changes to the zoning plan with submissions open until September 17, 2010.

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water North Coast regional manager Alan Jeffery said the zoning for the Solitary Islands Marine Park has been reviewed in accordance with the Marine Parks Act and a new proposed draft zoning plan is currently out for public comment.

The Solitary Islands Marine Park protects outstanding marine biodiversity and habitats and stretches from Muttonbird Island in the south to the Sandon River and Plover Island in the north and covers an area of around 71 000 hectares.

The marine park supports a range of threatened and protected species such as the grey nurse shark, turtles, whales, shore birds and rare marine algae and contains over 550 species of reef fish, 90 species of hard coral and 600 species of molluscs.

Mr Jeffery said seabed habitat mapping of the park conducted over the last five years had found intermediate and deep water reefs as well as deep soft-sediment habitat; areas of which are now proposed for inclusion in sanctuary zones.

“These reefs are different to shallow water reefs which make up the bulk of the reef habitats currently protected in the park and as a result contain different habitat.
He said the seabed habitat mapping program which had discovered new reef in the park had recently been described as amongst the best in Australia by an independent panel reviewing the marine park science program across the state.

He said over the last few weeks information stalls and meetings had been held in the region including at Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Wooli and Iluka to discuss the proposed changes with the community and stakeholders, and that further meetings will be held in the coming weeks.

Mr Jeffery said there was still confusion over the process with the public mixing the Commonwealth marine bioregion assessment of commonwealth waters with the Solitary Islands Marine Park zoning plan review which relates to NSW waters only.

He said there was still a perception that recreational and commercial fishing would not be allowed in the park.

“This is wrong, under the proposals extensive areas will still be available for recreational fishing and commercial fishing.

“Recreational fishers will have access to 80 per cent of the park, with proposed improvements to access at Bare Bluff and Groper Island and at Minnie Water Back Beach.
Mr Jeffery said while a two-year phase out of trawling in the marine park has been proposed the existing arrangements for ocean beach hauling and estuary commercial fishing would remain.

Mr Jeffery said marine parks aim to conserve marine biodiversity, maintain ecological processes and provide for a range of sustainable uses of the marine environment.
Information on the proposed amendments to the zoning plan can be found
• At the Marine Parks Authority website at www.mpa.nsw.gov.au
• By contacting the Environment Line on 1300 361 967
• From the Solitary Islands Marine Park office at 32 Marine Drive, Coffs Harbour Jetty
• From the Grafton National Parks and Wildlife Service visitor’s counter Level 3, 49 Victoria Street, Grafton

All written and online submissions on the draft zoning plan received by 5pm on 17th September 2010 will be considered in finalising changes to the zoning plan.

For further information please call (02) 6652 0900
The closing date for submissions is 5pm on 17th September 2010.
For more information:
www.mpa.nsw.gov.au