BIAA SUBMISSION TO CONSULTATION ON PROPOSALS FOR
NORTH WEST COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVES NETWORK
Boating Industries Alliance Australia is the national peak body for the recreational and light
commercial boating industry in Australia. BIAA members are the state-based Boating Industry
Associations in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and
Northern Territory. Together, the BIAA members represent over 1500 marine businesses, accounting
for 85% of the industry by turnover and employing some 28,000 people. The boating industry has a
turnover of approximately $8bn and is a leading sector of the Australian economy, encompassing
manufacturing, retail, service and tourism operators.
Recreational boating is one of the most participative and inclusive recreational activities and as a
lifestyle it provides more than 4 million regular boaters with an opportunity to enjoy their leisure time
with family and friends. A significant proportion of boat owners and boaters are also recreational
fishers, with some considering the boat and boating as a secondary aspect of going fishing. All
boaters, whether they be ‘simply’ boaters or fishers also, enjoy and respect the unique aquatic
habitats of the Australian coastline and are among the most supportive of measures to protect and
sustain this environment for the future.
However, there is a balance to be found between conservation and use of the amenity of the
environment. The BIAA, in representing its members, particularly in Western Australia as the state
most closely impacted by the proposed North West Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network,
supports and concurs with the submissions made to the Consultation by a number of partner and
affiliated organisations, including the Boating and Fishing Council of Australia and Recfishwest and
additionally the Boating Industry Association of Western Australia’s own submission.
Question 1 Views on the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network proposals
In answering Question 1 of the Consultation, the submissions above provide a comprehensive,
detailed response to the proposals, particularly concerning the objective, scale and location of specific
marine reserves, and highlight a number of key issues concerning the impact on recreational fishing
(and boating). BIAA believes these submissions provide the evidence to support the argument that
recreational boating and fishing in Australia, and specifically within the waters covered by the
proposed North West Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network, can and does exist in harmony with
not only the environment but also the objectives of the Australian IUCN Reserve Management
Principles as per the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
BIAA would replicate the analysis of each of these submissions concerning proposed Marine Reserves,
with particular attention to the recommendations to concerning the boundaries and zoning of the
proposed:
Gascoyne marine reserve – while generally supporting the boundaries of this proposed reserve, the
recent expansion of recreational and charter-fishing activities out beyond the usual 200m contour –
which in turn sees a reduction in fishing effort in shallower waters – should be recognised with regard
to the current zoning given as Multiple Use Zone (IUCN VI). Any change to this will have a negative
impact on this new approach to fishing in the area, which is principally a tag-and-release game fishery.
Waters west of 112.5oE are beyond the scope of this new area of activity and are considered suitable
for zoning as a Marine National Park (IUCN Zone II) noting following comments under question 2
regarding zoning definitions and interpretations.
Pilbara marine reserve – the boundaries of this proposed reserve are considered appropriate, as is the
zoning applied within such as currently presented, however it should be recognised that despite the
remotest of the location, the Rowley Shoals are an important fishing ground for recreational fishers
and charter-fishing activities and consideration should be given to the current Rowley Shoals Marine
Park Management Plan when developing such plans for this marine reserve area.
Kimberley marine reserve – the zoning of the northern portion of this marine reserve adjoining the
Camden Sound state marine park is not considered appropriate as a Marine National Park (IUCN Zone
II). The indicative management plan for the state marine park, which is likely to change, would appear
to have influenced the zoning of this particular area of the proposed marine reserve. It would cause
unnecessary confusion and negative impact on fishers in the area to have two different usage zones
alongside each other, one being state and one Commonwealth, while providing little additional
environmental conversation value. It is considered that the much larger proposed Marine National
Park to the south of this reserve area provides sufficient representation of this bioregion, albeit with
the following caveat and proposed change to the zoning boundary. To support and not unduly
negatively impact the newly increasing tourism sector in this area, it is considered appropriate that a
30nm lateral buffer zone be added to the eastern boundary of the proposed Marine National Park.
These recommendations have been made to introduce minor, but effective from the point of view of
limiting the impact on recreational boating and fishing, modifications to the boundaries and zoning of
these areas, without negatively impacting the aspirations of the North West Commonwealth Marine
Reserves Network to protect important aquatic habitats in these areas.
Question 2 General feedback
In response to Question 2, BIAA, in considering common, national interpretation and implementation
of the Australian IUCN Reserve Management Principles, would recommend and strongly hope, that the
approach taken to subsequent development of marine park management plans for the North West
Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network be consistent with these principles and indeed the approach
taken in other, existing marine reserves and marine parks.
Specifically, the definition and use of IUCN Zone II with regard to non-extractive recreational activities,
must extend beyond ‘passage of vessels and non-extractive tourism’ to include recreational and
charter fishing which is carried out under the very sustainable ‘no-take’ or ‘catch-and-release’
principle. It should be recognised that recreational and charter fishing provides one of the most
effective controls over illegal activity in terms of use of the proposed marine reserves by a
combination of a desire to protect the very waters in which they fish and often being the only ‘eyes’
out in some of the more remote locations covered by this proposed marine reserve network plan, with
the ability to report such activity to appropriate authorities.
BIAA would strongly recommend that the proposed North West Commonwealth Marine Reserves
Network adopts the internationally agreed and nationally, commonly understood and successfully
tried and tested definitions for zoning of Marine National Parks and that non-extractive recreational
fishing be continued to be permitted in such areas under the principles of the IUCN Zone II concept
and detailed definition.
BIAA is pleased to have had the opportunity to respond to the consultation and hopes that the
recommendations and general comments expressed on behalf the boating industry in the North West
marine region and more widely across Australia will be given due consideration in further
development of the North West Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.
Submitted by:
Nik Parker
General Manager
Boating Industries Alliance Australia
[email protected], 08 8212 6207
PO Box 10083, Adelaide BC, SA 5000
28 November 2011