Key Issues in the Northern Marine Planning Area
Click to download the report
Conservation groups that form the Northern Australian Environment Alliance have outlined the conservation requirements of the Northern Regional Marine Plan through the construction of a report to the National Oceans Office.
National Oceans Office is the key organisation for implementing Australia’s Oceans Policy, of which Regional Marine Plan development forms the core component.
It was in 1998 that the Commonwealth Government announced Australia’s Oceans Policy aiming to give new direction in the management of Australia’s Oceans. Development of the Northern Marine Plan is currently in its initial stages at the Scoping Phase.
In the Scoping Phase objectives to be pursued are identified, as well as the most important issues to be addressed. It is for this stage that the report was produced so as to ensure desired conservation outcomes are clearly outlined from the beginning of the process.
Below is a map of the Northern Regional Marine Planning Area.
Map of the Northern Regional Marine Planning Area
The Northern Australian Environment Alliance includes:
Australian Conservation Foundation Environs Kimberley
Australian Marine Conservation Society North Queensland Conservation Council
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre World Wide Fund for Nature
Conservation Council of Western Australia The Wilderness Society
Queensland Conservation Council Environment Centre of the Northern Territory
Download the report
(PDF 721 Ks)
Aquaculture threatens the Northern Territory’s marine and coastal environment
The Aquaculture industry in the Northern Territory is expanding at a great pace and possibly in advance of adequate environmental and public health safeguards.
There is no management plan of any form for the aquaculture industry in the Northern Territory.
Large scale developments are occurring in one of the most precious and fragile environments – the coastal zone.
Industrialised aquaculture, such as that occurring here in the NT, that requires intensive use of resources and exports problems to the surrounding public environment is overdue for reform.
The long term future of aquaculture will depend upon the development of farming practices that do not compromise the sustainability of farming operations or the biological and social environment on which they depend.
For substantial reasons aquaculture has gained an International reputation as an environmentally destructive industry. Regardless of technological progress, the industry has inherent environmental problems and requires stringent regulation. A history of disasters at the hands of this industry is reason enough to proceed with caution.
Huge developments race ahead in the Northern Territory, including in Darwin and Bynoe harbour, with an absence of mandatory Environmental Impact Statements and limited public consultation.
NT Aquaculture concerns:
1. Feed for aquaculture farmed animals is made up of fish meal and fish oil. This fish meal and fish oil is comprised in majority of wild fish from ocean fisheries. Anywhere from 2kg -12kg of wild fish are caught to produce 1kg of aquaculture farmed animal.
2. Rapid expansion of aquaculture occurring in a piece meal approach driven by short term goals. Industry expansion is happening in absence of a long term management plan and with no consideration of cumulative impacts;
3. The lack of a bond or surety scheme;
4. Discharge into surrounding environments;
5. Clearing of native vegetation and associated impacts;
6. Impacts of escapees – Parasites and diseases – Displacement of wild populations – Genetic impacts on wild populations
7. Effects on other wildlife
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