Marine Bioregional Planning in the East

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East Marine Region

East Marine Bioregional Plan
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has approved a six month extension for the development of the East Marine Bioregional Plan.

The extension is in response to requests from stakeholders that additional time be available for the assessment of the East Marine Region including the Coral Sea. The extension will allow additional time for stakeholder engagement in the process.

The revised timings will see a draft plan released in mid 2010 and a final plan released in late 2010.

The East Marine Region encompasses Commonwealth waters offshore from the northern tip of Cape York to the southern New South Wales town of Bermagui.
It includes the waters surrounding both Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and the whole of the Coral Sea Islands Territory.
For the purposes of marine bioregional planning, it does not include the waters within the boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or State waters.
The East Marine Region covers 2.4 million km2 of ocean and also includes the airspace above and the seabed below.

Map of the East Marine Region