Australia Government Proposing to Strengthen Protections for SE Oceans on Oil & Gas Licences

Ace Breaking News – South-east Marine Parks management plan proposes ocean protection boosts

In short: 

The federal government is proposing to strengthen protections for parts of Australia’s south-east oceans.

The proposals include expanding marine sanctuary zones and banning new oil and gas titles in 14 marine parks.

What’s next? 

Consultation on the new draft South-east Marine Parks Network management plan will be open until November 14.

The federal government is moving to boost protections for marine life in Australia’s south-east oceans with new restrictions on oil and gas projects and fishing. 

Draft updates to the South-east Marine Parks Network management plan, set to be released publicly tomorrow, reveal government intentions to ban new oil and gas titles in 14 marine parks and double the size of “sanctuary zones” in ocean off Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

If approved, it would be the first time offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling, including seismic testing, and seabed mining is banned in these areas, but existing licences would not be affected.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) areas manager Adele Pedder said the proposed changes were a win for marine life, including blue whales, orcas, little penguins, dolphins and kelp forests. 

“The vast majority of marine life in Australia’s south-eastern waters are found nowhere else on Earth,” she said.

“If we lose them here, they’re gone from the planet forever.”

New protections 

Sanctuary zones are areas located within marine parks which are given greater protections.

The government’s proposal to more than double the area of marine sanctuaries would establish 11 new areas where fishing is banned, known as no-take zones, in 10 marine parks.

However, the ABC understands the plan also proposes to open some currently protected areas to some commercial fishing activities, described as “low impact” and “sustainable”.

Ms Pedder said she was concerned for the future of important marine species in these areas, including the impact on commercial fish stocks, and she urged the government to rethink this change.

“In a time when our oceans are under more pressure than ever before we should not be winding back any protections, we should only be expanding protection,” she said.

“The south-east is Australia’s most exploited marine region, with most still falling outside the marine park network and exposed to impacts from oil and gas exploration and drilling, seismic blasting, industrial fishing and waters that are warming three to four times faster than the global average.”

Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government was doing everything it could to protect the South-east Marine Park Network.

Tanya Plibersek says Australia protects more ocean than any other country. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)normal

She described the ocean area as “a jewel” of the country’s natural heritage.

Consultation on the South-east Marine Parks Network management plan opens on October 11 and closes on November 14.

The current management plan expired on June 30. 

The new plan will guide management of the ocean network for the next 10 years.

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