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Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Management
Network management plan
A management plan for the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network has been developed in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This plan provides for the protection and conservation of each reserve by setting out how it will be managed, what activities will be allowed or prohibited and how this will be done. The management plan will address key aspects of management over the life of the plan (10 years).
The management plan for the South-east Network will come into effect on 1 July 2013. Prior to the management plan coming into operation, interim management arrangements have been implemented.
The Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 (NPWC Act) on 27 October 1999. The NPWC Act was replaced on 16 July 2000 by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) but as stipulated in the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, the proclamation of the Reserve is continued as if it had been made under the EPBC Act.
The first Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve Management Plan expired on the 25th of September 2008.
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, approval from the Director of National Parks is required to allow existing commercial and recreational activities to legally continue.
Interim management arrangements
Interim Management Arrangements will apply until a new management plan has been put in place.
The interim management arrangements are a series of approvals issued by the Director of National Parks under section 359B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Under the EPBC Act, when a management plan is not in operation for a Commonwealth Reserve, approval from the Director of National Parks is required to allow commercial and recreational activities, that are consistent with the IUCN categories of the zones of the reserves, to legally continue. Approval can be given to both individuals and to classes of persons, and can be issued with or without conditions on the approved activity.
The interim management arrangements for the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve (the Reserve) are set out below.
Scientific Research
Scientific research may only be carried out in the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve under an individual approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Applications for an individual approval for scientific research will be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the relevant IUCN reserve management principles.
Commercial Vessel Transit
Transit through the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve is allowed under a general approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Persons wishing to transit the Reserve in a commercial vessel must comply with the conditions of this approval but do not need to apply to, or register with, the Director.
See the Approval Document and Conditions of Approval.
Commercial Tourism (including dive/snorkel tours, nature watching)
Commercial tourism activities in the habitat/species management zones of the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve may only be carried out in accordance with an individual approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Applications for an individual approval for commercial tourism will be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the relevant IUCN reserve management principles.
The transit of commercial tourism vessels through the Reserve is allowed under the general approval for transit of the Reserve in a commercial vessel.
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing activities in the habitat/species management zones of the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve may only be carried out in accordance with an individual approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Applications for an individual approval for commercial fishing will be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the relevant IUCN reserve management principles. Potential commercial fishing operators should note that demersal trawling is not permitted within the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve.
The transit of commercial fishing vessels through the Reserve is allowed under the general approval for transit of the Reserve in a commercial vessel.
Other Commercial Operations
Commercial operations (that is: activities, other than commercial fishing, commercial tourism or transit in a commercial vessel, that are undertaken for a commercial purpose) may be undertaken in the habitat/species management zones of the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve only in accordance with an individual approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Applications for an individual approval for commercial operations will be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the relevant IUCN reserve management principles.
The transit of commercial vessels through the Reserve is allowed under the general approval for transit of the Reserve in a commercial vessel.
How to apply for approval
To apply for approval to undertake (any of the above) activity within the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve please contact the South-east Region Manager at:
Telephone: (02) 6274 1111
Facsimile: (02) 6274 1771
Email: mpa@environment.gov.au
Post:
The South-east Region Manager
MPA Temperate Operations and Compliance & Enforcement
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Applications for approval will generally be processed by the Department within 28 days of receipt.
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Transit through the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve is allowed under a general approval issued by the Director of National Parks. Persons wishing to transit the Reserve in a commercial vessel must comply with the conditions of this approval but do not need to apply to, or register with, the Director.
The first Management Plan for the Reserve came into force on 26 September 2001. The Plan divides the Reserve into three zones: a central IUCN category Ia Highly Protected Zone of 5.8 million hectares flanked by two IUCN category IV Habitat/Species Management Zones in the northern (2.7 million hectares) and southern (7.7 million hectares) parts of the Reserve. Each of these zones has different management goals and strategies.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is the Commonwealth's managing authority for the Reserve. Where possible the management of the Marine Reserve complements the management arrangements for the adjacent Macquarie Island Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve is managed by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment.
About the first management plan
The first management plan for Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve expired on 25 September 2008.
The Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve (the Reserve) is part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). Delivery of the NRSMPA is a major focus of Australia’s Oceans Policy.
This draft Plan assists in fulfilling Australia’s responsibilities under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The establishment of the Reserve assists Australia in meeting its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) and the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The Reserve lies just outside the area covered by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). However, Australia must harmonise with CCAMLR measures, with any conservation measures for harvesting in areas adjacent to the area covered by CCAMLR, and must also ensure any harvesting is conducted in a responsible manner.
Under the EPBC Act, administration, management and control of Commonwealth reserves is the responsibility of the Director of National Parks. The Director’s functions and powers in relation to the Reserve have been delegated to the First Assistant Secretary, Marine and Biodiversity Division, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.