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12 August 2007
Westender Top Story
http://www.westender.com.au/stories.php?s_id=645
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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