International Coastal Management:
Tools for Successful Regional Partnerships and Initiatives

Establishing Marine Protected Areas in Australia

Simon Woodley

Twenty-eight years ago the Australian Government established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with specific and innovative legislation. This was an unprecedented approach to the management of natural resources in Australia and the world. Even today it is regarded by many as a benchmark for ecologically sustainable use of marine resources.

The establishment of marine protected areas in the rest of Australia over the same period of time is much more variable. Australia has a federal system of government with State jurisdiction applying to most of the coastal waters, although Commonwealth or federal jurisdiction can apply to the coast.

In the last decade Australia has established a number of robust policy platforms on which to establish a system of representative marine protected areas. These include Ocean's Policy, Guidelines for the Establishment of a Representative System of Marine Protected Areas and A Strategic Plan of Action for the Establishment of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Recent legislation in the form of Environmental Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act has given the Commonwealth the power to apply a comprehensive approach to the protection of marine and terrestrial natural resources, preferably through the States but if necessary directly.

The marine protected areas of Australia are a network of Commonwealth (generally beyond State waters) and State marine protected areas. Over 200 marine protected areas have now been established, ranging in size from less than 1 hectare to over 350,000 square kilometers. They range from the sub-Antarctic to the tropics and two are World Heritage Sites.

This presentation provides an overview of the state of marine protected in Australia, with particular emphasis on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. An emerging regime of protection of the marine environment through the development of regional marine plans under Oceans Policy is also examined.

University of Mississippi