Protect our Coral Sea

With nearly 1 million square kilometres of deep blue water, coral reefs, and spectacular marine life, the Coral Sea Marine Reserve is truly an incredible win for our ocean. But right now, the reserve exists only on paper, not yet on water. This campaign urged the Environment Minister Tony Burke to make final amendments to the management plan.
Establishment of the world´s largest Marine National Park in 2012

About

The creation of the world’s largest marine reserve in the Coral Sea is the result of the combined effort of so many people. More than 100,000 Australians have had their say on the Coral Sea, and the government has listened! Since late 2012, more of the Coral Sea has been fully protected. Now, we are in the last public consultation period of the process and this is our last opportunity to have a say and ensure the best possible outcome for the Coral Sea. With nearly 1 million square kilometres of deep blue water, coral reefs, and spectacular marine life, the Coral Sea Marine Reserve is truly an incredible win for our ocean. But right now, the reserve exists only on paper, not yet on water. The draft management plan, while improving protection in the north-west of Osprey Reef, reduces the level of protection in the south-west of the reef. This change has removed protection for a very important area of high ecological significance extending from the pelagic cleaning station at ‘Around the Bend’ (south-west of The Entrance to the Osprey lagoon) to False Entrance.

This area was protected under the government’s previous publicly released map. In this final public consultation period we urge the Environment Minister Tony Burke to add the following finishing touches to the marine park:
• Restore and widen the marine national park zone from the “cleaning station” at ‘Around the Bend’ (south-west of The Entrance to Osprey Lagoon) to False Entrance, in order to protect sharks and rays and other ocean giants.
• Ensure new and adequate funding for implementation of the Coral Sea management plan.
• Provide financial assistance to the long-line fishers who are willing to stop fishing down to 22 degrees south.
• Delegate management of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to enable it to implement its world-class compliance management.

Send in a submission now to ensure that the Coral Sea Marine Reserve will be effectively managed.

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and the Protect Our Coral Sea Campaign are pleased to invite you to three fantastic FREE events:
• Free Film Screening of Planet Ocean
• Date: Saturday 2nd February 2013
• Time: 6.30pm for a 7pm start
• Venue: Centre of Contemporary Arts, 96 Abbott St, Cairns
• Bookings essential: 405 33779 [email protected]

Join us for this special screening of ‘Planet Oceans’. The film takes us on a magnificent and unprecedented journey into the heart of the least known regions of our planet. It narrates the links between man and ocean, the future of humankind on Earth, the governance issue of the high seas and challenges we’ll have to face tomorrow. This is the official trailer http://youtu.be/7vYMUV2_das.

Coral Sea Lagoon Fun Day
• Date: Sunday 3rd February 2013
• Time: from 11am to 4pm
• Venue: Cairns Lagoon
Join us for a family fun day as the lagoon comes alive with the creatures of the Coral Sea. Activities will include: Free BBQ, Face painting and many Fun activities and family games. Come out and embrace the Wet Season with us as we celebrate the colour and beauty of the Coral Sea… Make sure you bring your swimmers and a big smile!

The History of the Coral Sea Exhibition
• Date: from 21st January to 8th February 2013
• Venue: James Cook University Library
• Experience the history and stories that link us with the Coral Sea. The History of Coral Sea is an exhibition that will take you on a journey though the dramatic history of the Coral Sea and the changing perceptions towards our oceans. Find out how shipwrecks, Matthew Flinders, emus, whales, war and natural wonders combine to form the history of one of Australia’s most remote and special ocean regions.

Note: This descriptive text was copied from the Campaign's website. Some website links may no longer be active.

Campaign Details

Group Leading this Campaign: Cairns and Far North Qld Environment Centre

Campaign Target Type:

Who this Campaign is Targeting: Not stated

Main Issue of the Campaign:

Campaign Ran From: 2013 to 2016

Campaign Outcome:

Outcome Evidence: Stated on website 'The creation of the world’s largest marine reserve in the Coral Sea is the result of the combined effort of so many people. More than 100,000 Australians have had their say on the Coral Sea, and the government has listened! Since late 2012, more of the Coral Sea has been fully protected. Now, we are in the last public consultation period of the process and this is our last opportunity to have a say and ensure the best possible outcome for the Coral Sea.' (https://cafnec.org.au/2013/01/18/last-public-consultation-period-for-the-coral-sea-marine-reserve/) Article in The Conversation 'The Coral Sea: an ocean jewel that needs more protection', October 6, 2016 6.16am AEDT Updated October 6, 2016 10.23am AEDT by Pressey, Grech and Ward note significant shortcomings: "The Coral Sea reserve In November 2012, the Labor federal government announced massive increases to Australia’s marine reserves, including large additions to existing smaller reserves in the Coral Sea. The zoning of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve that resulted was typical of the larger picture. Zones that prohibited fishing (“no-take” zones, shown in green in the left-hand map below) were mostly far offshore in very deep waters where little or no fishing occurred. Zones that protected the marine environment from open ocean long-lining were placed in areas where little or no long-lining occurred. Most reefs, cays and seamounts remained open to fishing. So did the world’s only known black marlin spawning aggregation. Overall, the no-take zones were strongly “residual” – placed in areas left over from commercial and recreational uses, and least in need of protection – rather than designed to mitigate known threats. The approach could be described as “business as usual”, with priority given to existing uses and conservation coming a poor second. The Coral Sea reserve, take two Following a backlash against the new marine reserves by commercial and recreational fishing interests the then opposition leader Tony Abbott fished for votes by promising to review the reserves. Just over a year after they were established, the new reserves were “re-proclaimed” by the Coalition government, effectively rendering them empty outlines on the map. The strength of the pushback against the reserves was perplexing, given that they were obviously designed to have minimal effect on fishing and no effect on extraction of oil and gas. Before the release of the review, a cynic might have predicted, given statements when the review began, that the process was intended to convert a largely residual reserve system into a completely residual one. As it happens, that is close to what has been recommended for the Coral Sea. A major feature of the recommended zoning is a reduction of no-take by more than 93,000km², or 9.3% of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve (no-take zones, or national park, now cover 40% of the reserve). No-take zoning is now even more strongly concentrated in remote, deep water where it will make even less difference to fishing than before. ... Some reefs have less protection than before, and some have more. Notably, two of the most important reefs in the Coral Sea – Osprey and Marion – are partly open to fishing and partly no-take. Split zones are known to pose problems for compliance and are typically avoided in conservation planning. Fishing on Osprey could also compromise its value as a globally significant dive destination, specifically for its sharks and pelagic fish. There are net increases in areas open to gear types known to pose ecological risks: sea floor longlines (2,400km² of the reserve, including the Fraser Seamount), sea floor trawl (26,300km²), and open sea long-lining (269,000km²). These changes appear inconsistent with advice on ecological risks."

Year Outcome Assessed:

Geographic Range of Activity:

Weblinks

Protect our Coral Sea

Issue

States/Territories