Commonwealth marine reserves
Allowed activities
Activities allowed in marine reserves - What does it mean for me?
Many members of the community use the marine environment, either for recreational activities including boating, diving and fishing, or for commercial activities such as tourism, charter fishing and commercial fishing.
The Commonwealth marine reserves estate has been expanded by the declaration of 40 new reserves around Australia. Prior to statutory management plans for the reserves coming into effect, transitional management arrangements are in place. There are no changes "on the water" for users in the new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate.
The management arrangements for former Commonwealth marine reserves, Marine National Nature Reserves and Marine Parks will remain in place under transitional arrangements until the new management plans come into effect in July 2014. If people hold an existing approval to undertake activities within Commonwealth marine reserves or the now-revoked Coral Sea Conservation Zone, they are able to continue to operate under the terms of the existing approval and no additional administrative requirements apply.
The new areas proclaimed in the Commonwealth Marine Reserves network include a range of different management zones within which different types of activities are or will be permitted.
People interested in details about what activities are or will be permitted in the different zones in the reserves networks when management plans come into effect can get more information by referring to the network zoning scheme for the region of interest. The zoning restrictions in the newly proclaimed reserves will not come into effect until July 2014.
A general summary for a range of activities is provided below.
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing is an important leisure pursuit for millions of Australians. The Australian Government understands the importance of recreational fishing and has worked closely with the recreational fishing sector to largely avoid locating highly protected Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones in areas important to recreational fishers.
Recreational fishing will be allowed in all zones in the marine reserves except in highly protected Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones which are coloured green on the available regional maps. Recreational fishing is permitted in Multiple Use (IUCN VI) zones, Special Purpose (IUCN VI) zones, Habitat Protection (IUCN IV) zones and Recreational Use (IUCN IV) zones. These zones are used extensively over the continental shelf and shelf edge where most recreational fishing occurs.
The marine reserves are in Commonwealth waters, which start 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) from shore. They do not include beaches, bays, estuaries or coastal waters.
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Two thirds of the reserves are zoned to allow recreational fishing. A large majority of the highly protected areas are remote from access points such as boat ramps or far offshore. Under the Commonwealth marine reserves network, some 96 per cent of all waters within 100 km of the shore (excluding the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park) are open to recreational fishing.
- Fact sheet - Marine reserves and recreational fishing (PDF - 116KB) | (Word - 630KB)
- Fact sheet - How close are green zones in the new Commonwealth marine reserves to towns around the Australian coast? (PDF - 59KB) | (Word - 377KB)
- Protected oceans and recreational fishing side by side - Media release, 15 June 2012
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing will be allowed in all zones in the newly proclaimed marine reserves, except in Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones. However, there will be some restrictions on the types of fishing gear permitted in the different zones. These restrictions vary between networks. Information about the restrictions and types of fishing gear that will be excluded is provided in the relevant overview of the zoning scheme for each regional reserves network.
The management arrangements in the reserves that existed before November 2012, have been maintained through transitional arrangements. This includes restrictions on commercial fishing.
Class approvals will apply for commercial fishing activities permitted in marine reserves. In most cases commercial fishers will not be required to seek individual approvals to operate in Commonwealth marine reserves in addition to those approvals required for the relevant state, territory or Commonwealth managed fisheries.
The operations of some commercial fishing businesses will be affected by the new reserves. The Government will provide assistance to help commercial fishers adjust to changes brought about by displacement of commercial fishing from the new reserves.
Find out more
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Marine tourism
Tourism activities that do not involve the extraction or harvesting of marine resources (such as diving, snorkelling, whale watching and photography), will be permitted within all zones in the marine reserves networks. The management of these activities is likely to be through the use of permits or activity class approvals.
Activities that impact on or involve the extraction of marine biodiversity will not be allowed in Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones. Some restricitons may apply in some Habitat Protection (IUCN IV) zones.
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Charter boat operations (fishing)
Charter boat operations that involve fishing - e.g. charter fishing tours - will be permitted in all zones except in Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones.
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Mining and oil and gas activities
Mining activities - including petroleum exploration and development - will not be allowed in Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones, anywhere in the Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve or in the Special Purpose (Oil and Gas Exclusion) zone in the South-west Marine Reserves Network. Restrictions on mining activities will also apply in Habitat Protection (IUCN IV) zones. Mining operations will be allowed within Multiple Use (IUCN VI) zones and some Special Purpose (IUCN VI) zones in the marine reserves network. A permit or approval by the Director of National Parks will be required for mining activities, some of which will be provided in the form of class approvals, including in conjunction with the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act.
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Port development and shipping
The transit of vessels though all areas of the marine reserves network, including through Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones, will be permitted. While ballast water exchange is managed under national arrangements, restrictions may apply in sensitive areas.
Activities associated with port operations and development, including maintenance dredging and the dumping of spoil, will be permitted in Multiple Use (IUCN VI) zones, but may be subject to assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These activities will not be permitted in Marine National Park (IUCN II) zones and Habitat Protection (IUCN IV) zones.
Find out more about the zoning for marine reserves of interest to you.
Find out more
Zoning for newly proclaimed marine reserves
- South-west - Overview of Zoning Scheme for the South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
- North-west - Overview of Zoning Scheme for the North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
- North - Overview of Zoning Scheme for the North Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
- Temperate East - Overview of Zoning Scheme for the Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
- Coral Sea - Overview of Zoning Scheme for the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve
General enquiries
If you have questions regarding the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network, please send an email to marinereserves@environment.gov.au or call 1800 069 352.
Network management plans finalised
- Management plans and explanatory statements
- Media release - 12 March 2013
