| 6 August 2007
Conservationists call for strong protection
for Moreton Bay
In response to a new study being launched by commercial and
recreational fishing entities today about Moreton Bay, the
Australian Marine Conservation Society has restated its concerns
about the health of the Park and called for high levels of
protection, consistent with those being called for by the
Park's scientific reference panel.
Spokesperson for the society Craig Bohm said: 'An even-handed,
impartial review of the marine park is already underway. Why
call for another review?'
On 1 September 2008, the Marine Park (Moreton Bay) Zoning
Plan 1997, expires. This year the Queensland Government engaged
a panel of 12 independent, scientific experts as well as nearly
30 independent stakeholders to infuse an updated review with
expert, independent advice on the biological, physical, social,
cultural and economic characteristics of the marine park.
The Independent Scientific Panel for Moreton Bay Marine Park
recently said that at least 10 percent of each habitat in
the Park needs to be protected in high conservation "green
zones" but that amounts recommended in the scientific
literature fall in the range of 20% - 40%. They also said
that presently less than 1% of the world?s oceans are protected
in marine protected areas, and this is the same in Moreton
Bay Marine Park.
Some 200 threatened turtles are found sick, injured or dead
in Moreton Bay Marine Park each year. An average of 15 dugongs
die within the Park in this same period. Moreton Bay has also
already lost 50% of saltmarshes and a 20% of seagrasses. We
need to secure a better future for this special place.
Queensland has the highest boat ownership in Australia and
a booming population. The rezoning of Moreton Bay is an opportunity
to secure our wildlife, our fish stocks and our lifestyle.
"Conservationists support any positive contribution
to the rezoning process as long as it helps us secure the
high levels of protection our Park and its wildlife desperately
needs," Bohm concluded.
According to the EPA, fishing and collecting are not permitted
in green zones but snorkeling, boating, swimming and scuba
diving are.
Craig Bohm, Australian Marine Conservation Society
- 0427 133 481
Additional Information
Moreton Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan Review
Scientific Guiding Principles Recommended by the Expert Advisory
Panel (extract)
Amount of protection required
There are no hard and fast rules to determine the extent
of protection required to conserve marine biodiversity and
ensure long-term sustainability. Each region must be examined
on its own merits and decisions made that take into account
the unique aspects of its oceanography, geography, history,
flora and fauna, as well as present and future socio-economic
factors.
The International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
has recommended 10% of each country?s ecological regions (i.e.
habitat types) be conserved in marine protected areas. Amounts
recommended in the scientific literature generally fall in
the range of 20% - 40% of the ocean?s environment in no-take
areas1. Presently less than 1% of the world?s oceans are protected
in marine protected areas.
Biodiversity conservation and the current zoning plan
The Expert Advisory Panel believes the current level of no-take
areas in Moreton Bay Marine Park does not provide suitable
protection for the biodiversity values of the area because:
- at present Moreton Bay Marine Park has just 0.5% included
in no-take areas ?well below international recommendations;
- the no-take areas are small, widely separated areas,
largely confined to coral reefs and mangrove habitats; and
- many significant habitats within Moreton Bay Marine Park
are not protected in no-take areas.
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