The Temperate East Marine Region off eastern Australia are Commonwealth waters that extend from Fraser Island in the north, to Bermagui in the south and out to Norfolk Island in the east. They are now the subject of the federal government's bioregional marine planning process.
As part of the process, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) has released the draft plan for the region for public comment. Unfortunately, the proposed marine reserve network in the draft plan misses the mark and needs to be improved.
The deadline for submissions is 21 February 2012.
The Temperate East Marine Region provides critical habitat for humpback whales, critically endangered species such as the grey nurse shark, threatened fish like the black cod, and unique subtropical corals. The combination of tropical and temperate seas, deep oceans, canyons, islands, seamounts and reefs ensures that there is ocean life found nowhere else. Less than one per cent of our eastern Commonwealth waters are currently given any form of protection.
The current bioregional marine planning process is a unique and once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide the protection our ocean life needs. To have your say, fill out a submission form... it's pretty easy to complete and we've provided some pointers here for you.
Download a short guide to writing submissions [below].
Download an analysis of the marine reserve network proposal only [below].
Download the full guide and analysis of the marine reserve network proposal.
We encourage you to add your own personal touch your submission.
Download a submission form here.
*** SUBMISSIONS CLOSED 21ST FEB 2012 ***
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Submission Guide - Temperate East Marine Region.pdf | 162.86 KB |
| Analysis of proposed marine reserves – Temperate East Marine Region.pdf | 2.17 MB |
