Jervis Bay Marine Park

[squidgie]

All,



Below are the NCC’s online submissions for JB and SI MPA’s.



As we have known the green groups want 50% of a MPA, but they are actually calling for 50% of all marine waters.



Mal





http://nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=c ... Itemid=602



Jervis Bay Marine Park zoning plan review



Currently only 20% of the Jervis Bay Marine Park is zoned as a sanctuary zone. This must be increased. According to scientists, up to 50% of all marine waters should have this top level of protection in order for ecosystems to regenerate and be self sustaining. Increasing the Sanctuary Zone to 50% together with increased protection within the park is a small step to achieving this.



The 50% of waters that should be protected in sanctuary zones must include a mix of habitat types such as seagrass, rocky reefs and sand to allow maximum protection of a broad range of species.



Increase the Sanctuary Zone to 50%

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It is important to note that the percentages above refer to the entire ocean, not only to areas included in Marine Parks. With this in mind, a call for 50% of the Marine Parks as sanctuary zones is only a first step towards a sustainable network of protected areas.



The expansion of the sanctuary zones to 50% must be a priority to protect marine life, conserve marine biodiversity and to maintain valuable ecosystems.



Of particular and immediate concern is the threat to the Grey Nurse Shark posed by inadequate sanctuary zones around critical habitat sites. To provide proper protection for this endangered species, all known Grey Nurse congregation sites must be protected by at least a 1500 metre radius Sanctuary zone.



Increase Protection within the Park

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• No marina should be allowed in Jervis Bay.

• The expansion of Sanctuary zones must be a priority. To protect marine life 50% of the Park should be declared Sanctuary zones.

• All sharks and rays should be fully protected within the park.

• All seagrass beds within the park should be included in Sanctuary zones and a speed limit of 4 knots introduced to those areas.

• Extend the Park boundary, including Sanctuary zones, to 3 nautical miles from the shoreline.

• There is a need to link some Sanctuary Zones within Jervis Bay. 1. From Longnose Point Sanctuary zone to Point Perpendicular Sanctuary zone. 2. >From the existing Sanctuary zone south of Stoney Creek to the end of reef adjacent to Stoney Creek. 3. From the existing Sanctuary zone at Point Perpendicular to Beecroft Head.

• All fishing and spearfishing competitions should be banned in the Park.

• Spearfishing should not be permitted from the shoreline to a band of 50m into the Bay.

• A buyback of all commercial fishing licences should be implemented.

• There is no support for the use of Hovercraft, PWC vessels and Cruise Ships in the Marine Park.

• There should be a uniform management plan for the park with Commonwealth and State authorities collaborating.



NSW Marine Parks Authority vision:

---------------------------------

“Locations and boundaries for marine parks and the zoning arrangements within them will have been derived from thorough scientific assessments of all available information and data, to provide the best combination of areas for the conservation of biodiversity.”



This vision is yet to be fulfilled. However, an increase of sanctuaries to 50% of the Marine Parks would go a long way to achieving it.



I call on you to significantly increase the percentage of the Marine Park that is protected in sanctuary zones and that all habitat types have protection under the zoning plan.



Thank you for your consideration



Yours Sincerely





Solitary Island Marine Park zoning plan review and Marine Reserve management plan review



Currently only 12% of the Solitary Island Marine Park is zoned as a sanctuary zone.According to scientists, up to 50% of all marine waters should have this top level of protection in order for ecosystems to regenerate and be self sustaining. Increasing the Sanctuary Zone to 50% together with increased protection within the park is a small step to achieving this.



The 50% of waters that should be protected in sanctuary zones must include a mix of habitat types such as seagrass, rocky reefs and sand to allow maximum protection of a broad range of species.



Increase the Sanctuary Zone to 50%

----------------------------------

It is important to note that the percentages above refer to the entire ocean, not only to areas included in Marine Parks. With this in mind, a call for 50% of the Marine Parks as Sanctuary zones is only a first step towards a sustainable network of protected areas.



The expansion of sanctuary zones to 50% must be a priority to protect marine life, conserve marine biodiversity and to maintain valuable ecosystems.



Of particular and immediate concern is the threat to the Grey Nurse Shark posed by inadequate sanctuary zones around critical habitat sites. To provide proper protection for this endangered species, all known Grey Nurse congregation sites must be protected by at least a 1500 metre radius Sanctuary zone.



Increase Protection within the Park

-----------------------------------

• All sharks and rays should be fully protected within the park.

• All seagrass beds within the park should be included in Sanctuary zones and a speed limit of 4 knots introduced to those areas.

• A phasing out of all trawling within the park.

• All commercial fishing within the park should be licensed.

• Commercial fishing records, showing all catches within the Park, should be made available to Solitary Islands Marine Park Committee.

• Periodic surveys to be carried out on the recreational catch within the Park with a view to determining the effect of recreational fishing.



NSW Marine Parks Authority vision:

----------------------------------

“Locations and boundaries for marine parks and the zoning arrangements within them will have been derived from thorough scientific assessments of all available information and data, to provide the best combination of areas for the conservation of biodiversity.”



This vision is yet to be fulfilled. However, an increase of Sanctuary areas to 50% of the Solitary Island Marine Parks would go a long way to achieving it.



Observations to support increasing sanctuary zones in the Solitary Islands Marine Park



• Small Sanctuary areas have been associated with an increase in numbers of certain fish species, such as red morwong. Larger sanctuary areas have seen a much stronger increase in numbers of the same fish. This underlines the need for an increase in size of existing sanctuary zones.

• Larger sanctuary zones are considered to have a higher chance of containing sites suitable for a wider range of species and are therefore to be strongly encouraged.

• Monitoring of snapper populations in sanctuary zones has shown that numbers within these protected zones are negatively affected by fishing in adjacent areas. This also supports a call for increasing the sizes of current Sanctuary zones.

• Monitoring has shown that swift and significant growth of mud crabs occurs within Sanctuary zones. In addition, a significant spill over of these crabs to unprotected areas has been recorded. This shows a direct benefit of Sanctuary areas to this fishery and supports the idea that more Sanctuary areas are required.

• Habitat and species composition mapping has shown that reefs in close proximity to one another do not necessarily have the same types or range of associated organisms. This reinforces the urgent need to increase the number and area of sanctuary zones to ensure that all habitats are represented and replicated within the Park.



I call on you to significantly increase the percentage of the Marine Park that is protected in sanctuary zones and that all habitat types have protection under the zoning plan.





Thank you for your consideration



Yours Sincerely



Regards,



Malcolm Poole

9 Walmsley Road

Ourimbah NSW 2258

Ph: (02) 4362 1687

Fax: (02) 4362 1387

Mob: 0403 125 766

[carp]

Gee only 50% why dont they just fence to place off and dont let anyone in like they are trying too do in the most nat parks Cheers Carp(Michael)