Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Marine Protected Area?
• What is the difference between a MPA and a Marine Park?
• Why do we need MPAs?
• Is the Government committed to the development of MPAs?
• Is the Government talking to people who are affected by MPAs?
• What role does the public have in planning and designing MPAs?
• What does multiple-use mean?
• What are the benefits of zoning?
• What does representative mean?
• What are some of the benefits of MPAs?
• Are MPAs effective?
• Are MPAs the only solution for improved marine biodiversity conservation?
• Doesn't South Australia already have MPAs?
• Can I still fish in a MPA?
• Do MPAs affect size and bag limits?
• Is diving allowed in a MPA?
• Are there any limitations on mooring / anchoring in a MPA?
• Do MPAs affect Native Title?
• Who will manage and enforce MPAs?

Q. What is a Marine Protected Area?

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) can be defined as "An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means." (IUCN 1994)

Or, put more simply, an MPA is an area of marine environment reserved by law to protect all, or part, of the enclosed environment.

Across the country different names are used to describe MPAs. You may be more familiar with the terms Marine Park, Marine Reserve or Marine Conservation Reserve amongst others. These are all types of MPAs.

MPAs can include a large variety of important environmental and cultural features. South Australia has a diverse and unique collection of marine plants and animals that inhabit our reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, saltmarshes, mudflats, beaches, offshore islands and deep-water realms. Our MPAs are designed to protect typical examples of all the different habitats as well as the plants and animals that rely on them.

Q. What is the difference between a MPA and a Marine Park?

The term "MPA" is a generic term that can encapsulate a number of different protected areas (such as sanctuaries, aquatic reserves, marine parks etc). This is similar to the situation for terrestrial protected areas (eg national parks, regional reserves, conservation parks etc).

The representative MPAs being established as part of the SARSMPA will be known as marine parks, to reflect their multiple use nature and to align with Commonwealth Guidelines.

Q. Why do we need MPAs?

Humans are having an ever-increasing impact on natural resources, and the marine environment is no different. Fishing industries have grown and harvesting methods have become more efficient. Pollution from the land is effecting marine ecosystems and coastal development has escalated. A growing and mobile population will continue to increase competition for space and resources.

MPAs are now regarded internationally as a pivotal tool to conserve examples of our marine realms in an undisturbed state, much like National Parks and Reserves do on land. Simply, MPAs are needed as an insurance policy to guarantee that future generations can continue to use and enjoy the marine environment.

Q. Is the Government committed to the development of MPAs?

Yes. The Government of South Australia is committed to the development of the South Australian Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (SARSMPA) to protect and conserve the broad diversity of coastal, marine and estuarine environments, while at the same time enabling the sustainable use of our precious marine resources.

The development of the SARSMPA is a key commitment of the Living Coast Strategy, and is fundamental to ensure that representative samples of these environments are protected for future generations. The pursuit of this goal will also see the Government progress a number of national and international commitments as well as achieve a key target within the South Australia's Strategic Plan - Creating Opportunity through the establishment of 19 multiple-use MPAs by 2010.

Q. Is the Government talking to people who are affected by MPAs?

The South Australian Government is committed to a transparent MPA process, including community and stakeholder involvement throughout the development of the SARSMPA. Formally, the Government talks to the community through MPA Consultative Committee and the Marine Advisory Committee, which guide the development of individual MPAs (also known as marine parks) and the statewide process respectively. Various information meetings and stakeholder information sessions are also held to ensure that local stakeholder groups are provided opportunities to voice their needs and concerns.

A draft management plan - detailing the boundary, proposed zones and other management arrangements - will be released for each marine park for public consultation to enable the public to have their say on specific local issues and areas. Members of local communities, industry and other key stakeholders will be invited to submit their comments on the proposed locations of zones for consideration.

Q. What role does the public have in planning and designing Marine Parks?

The marine environment and its resources belong to all members of the community, thus making community involvement essential for successful marine park development.

There are several ways for the community to participate in the planning and designing stages of marine park development, namely:

• nominating to participate on a Marine Park Consultative Committee
• providing comment on discussion papers and draft plans
• attending public information sessions
• providing input and feedback on various informal workshops and other activities.

Marine Park Consultative Committee assist with the development of marine park zoning schemes and management plans. Members are appointed on an expertise basis from local communities, industry and local government. These committees complement the Marine Advisory Committee, which provides independent advice to the Minister for Environment and Conservation on the MPA planning process across the State.

Q. What does multiple-use mean?

The Blueprint for the South Australian Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (100Kb PDF) contains a commitment for South Australia's marine parks to be zoned for multiple-use in order to protect marine and estuarine ecosystems while also providing for continued ecologically sustainable use of suitable areas. This means that most activities, such as recreational and commercial fishing, will still be allowed within a marine park boundary. There will, however, be particular zones, or periods of time, where some activities will not be permitted. These restrictions are necessary to protect significant habitats, species, and ecological or cultural features.

Dedicating multiple-use marine parks means that not the whole area will be managed in the same way. Instead the marine parks will be zoned to protect representative and important areas while other areas will be zoned for different levels of use.

Q. What are the benefits of zoning?

There are four zones that may be used in a South Australian marine park and each offers some form of protection.

Restricted access zones are generally the smallest component of marine parks and are designed to protect and conserve biologically significant habitats in a pristine condition and for scientific research.

Sanctuary zones - also known as 'no-take' areas - provide a high level of protection where the removal or harm of any plants, animals or marine products is prohibited. These zones will provide exceptional opportunities for recreational and commercial nature-based activities that do not involve harming any animal or plant or causing any damage to natural or cultural features. Sanctuary zones result in many benefits, including:

• refuges for vulnerable species
• habitat protection and habitat recovery
• development of natural biological communities
• spill over of adults and juveniles into fishing grounds
• enhanced protection of offspring which can restock fishing grounds.

Several studies have shown that there is generally an increase in the number, size and different types of fish present in a 'no-take' area.

Habitat protection zones offer a level of protection and allow for a range of recreational and some commercial activities that do not harm habitats or interfere with the services that habitats provide to populations that use them, or impact significantly on fish populations or ecological processes.

General managed use zones allow ongoing conduct of most activities, provided that they are ecologically sustainable and consistent with the overall objectives of SARSMPA.

Special purpose areas are an overlay to marine park zones and are used to provide for a specific use or management outcome.

Q. What does representative mean?

Like all natural systems, the marine environment is a sum of many different parts. All of the different ecosystems, habitats, plants and animals fit together and interact to create what we recognise and enjoy as our marine systems and resources. Examples of each ecosystem can be said to be a representative of that part of the marine environment.

In other words, a reef near Adelaide may represent reefs in the Gulf St Vincent area because it is likely that the plants and animals that live on it will be similar to other reefs in the area. Protecting representative areas in marine parks, therefore, aims to protect examples of an ecosystem or habitat. By protecting examples of all of our different ecosystems or habitats we are able to conserve the variety of life in our marine environment.

The SARSMPA is a network of marine parks that is designed to protect examples of all our different habitats throughout South Australia's waters. For example, reefs in Gulf St Vincent are very different to reefs along the southern coast of South Australia and support different plant and animal communities. To effectively protect all examples of our marine ecosystems it is important to protect reefs, and other habitats, from each region.

Q. What are some of the benefits of Marine Parks?

There are many benefits to both the community and the environment from the dedication and management of marine parks. These include enhanced opportunities for nature-based tourism and conservation of the marine environment and key resources for future generations. Following is some more information on these, and other, benefits:

• Protecting marine life and habitats
  Setting aside significant areas that contain different types of plants, animals and estuarine and marine habitats means that we are contributing to the protection of the immense variety of life, or biodiversity, that helps make South Australia's marine environment special.
• Supporting education and research
  By providing natural areas that are protected from human impacts, marine parks provide an important opportunity for science. They act as a laboratory in the sea where scientists can investigate the way marine systems behave naturally and begin to better understand how we are affecting them.
  Educating students and the general public about marine ecology and conservation is a very important function and valuable benefit of marine parks that will lead to better management in the future.
• Managing compatible resource use
  While the primary goal of the SARSMPA is the conservation of marine biodiversity, the system will cater for many different uses. One of the key outcomes of the SARSMPA will be the establishment of a framework for the integrated and sustainable management of a range of human activities, including economic, cultural, indigenous and social resource use. Management zones will be developed to deliver the framework for integrated use.
• Promoting enjoyment
  The natural features found in marine parks make these popular areas for recreational and tourism activities such as snorkelling, SCUBA diving and other nature-based pursuits. These activities can also provide social and economic benefits local and regional communities.
• Enhancing local fisheries
  Research from around the world has shown that marine parks can improve the quality and quantity of fish caught in adjacent waters. Some of the ways MPAs can enhance fish stocks locally and regionally include:
• protecting depleted stocks, and their habitats, allowing populations to regenerate in higher densities and individual fish to obtain larger sizes and creating a greater capacity for reproduction
• providing protection for fish and their habitats during sensitive or vulnerable life stages (eg juvenile nurseries)
• providing a degree of insurance against unexpected events and against a lack of understanding of the dynamics of marine resources.
• Greater security and certainty
  The dedication and zoning of marine parks will provide greater certainty to extractive resource industries and other users of the marine environment as there will be clear understanding of the activities permitted in each area. Further, marine parks act as an insurance policy that resources will be available for future generations.

Q. Are MPAs effective?

Scientists have studied over 80 MPAs throughout the tropical and temperate environments of the world. A comprehensive review of these studies reveals that most well enforced MPAs result in relatively large, rapid, and long-lasting increases in population sizes, numbers of species, and reproductive output of marine animals and plants.

Q. Are Marine Parks the only solution for improved marine biodiversity conservation?

No. Marine parks are most effective when undertaken in conjunction with other management programs. If done properly, effective management of the marine environment involves the integration of a number of sound and purpose-specific management strategies including fisheries management, infrastructure and development management as well as the management of biodiversity.

The Marine Planning program is an important new initiative that provides a broader framework for managing the marine environment. Marine Planning will facilitate the required integration of management regimes and marine parks will be the lead tool for delivery of biodiversity management.

Q. Doesn't South Australia already have MPAs?

Yes, but not a well-designed network of MPAs that represent all of our typical and unique habitats and their component biodiversity.

South Australia was one of the first Australian States to make laws for creating marine managed areas and MPAs. Currently, a number of marine and estuarine areas are protected as aquatic reserves, rock lobster sanctuaries, the Great Australian Bight Marine Park and areas incorporating islands and estuaries in conservation parks. These areas are currently proclaimed / dedicated under a myriad of legislative means, including:

• National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
• Fisheries Act 1982
• Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981.

Marine managed areas in South Australia have been proclaimed for a range of reasons, including:

• conservation of species and their associated habitats for commercial and / or recreational fisheries management
• conservation of sites for endangered / vulnerable / rare species - such as whales and seals
• protection of sites which are significant for recreation / diving, scientific research and / or education - including the Noarlunga Reef.

While these areas have some conservation benefits, they do not in themselves deliver a robust network of protected areas that comply with international best practice or national commitments to develop a comprehensive, adequate and representative system as:

• most bioregions are under-represented
• many habitats types are under-represented
• most are too small to be effective
• most are relatively isolated from each other
• most are not managed or assessed.

In the late 1990s, there was an international shift in emphasis towards larger, multiple-use MPAs, with specific management arrangements providing varying levels of protection. The first and only one of these to be established in South Australia to date is the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. This MPA was established under three different Acts, and covers an area of more than 20,000 km² (including Commonwealth waters) - less than three per cent of South Australian waters.

Q. Can I still fish in a Marine Park?

Yes. Only some areas of a marine park will be closed to all kinds of fishing. Other areas may be closed to a variety of fishing methods that are regarded as incompatible with the objectives of particular zones. Broad areas of the marine parks will maintain most activities and uses, while ensuring that they are managed in a sustainable manner.

The primary aim of marine park development in South Australia is biodiversity conservation, and should not be confused with other fisheries management activities undertaken by PIRSA. Thorough planning and pragmatic zoning of marine parks, incorporating local community and industry input, should ensure that South Australia's marine parks have the least possible impact on marine users. This means that, wherever possible, areas for higher levels of protection will be chosen that achieve the conservation goal while minimising impacts on recreational and commercial fishers.

A means to address displaced commercial fishing effort will be developed as part of purpose specific legislation for the dedication and management of marine parks for those instances where unavoidable conflict occurs.

Q. Do Marine Parks affect size and bag limits?

In general, marine parks will not affect size or bag limits of any commercially or recreationally targeted species and normal Fisheries Regulations will apply. In certain circumstances, marine parks may prohibit the taking of species that are regarded as key to maintaining local ecosystem or habitat functions.

Q. Is diving allowed in a Marine Park?

Divers will be able to explore the underwater world in all but restricted access zones that are set aside to protect vulnerable habitats, critical life stages or populations of plants and animals or as scientific reference sites.

Divers will benefit from access to sites that are not impacted by extractive uses and will be able to enjoy diving in areas preserved in a natural state. 'No-take' rules will apply to divers in designated areas where a look but don't touch approach will be adopted. Outside of the restricted access and sanctuary zones, however, divers will still be able to take lobsters, abalone and other catch species according to Fisheries Regulations.

Q. Are there any limitations on mooring / anchoring in a Marine Park?

Some areas may have limits to mooring and anchoring to stop any disturbance to plants and animals on the seabed. In certain areas, specially designed mooring buoys may be installed to enable people to access the area without having to deploy anchors and damaging habitats. Permits to maintain a mooring may also be granted in some areas of marine parks. Marine parks will not override the laws of the sea and anchoring in emergency situations to preserve life or vessels will not be prohibited.

Q. Do Marine Parks affect Native Title?

The Aboriginal community has close ties with both the land and sea in South Australia. Accordingly, appropriate consultation with Aboriginal representatives must be undertaken prior to establishing a marine park. Aboriginal heritage issues and activities, such as traditional fishing rights, will be taken into account during the process of identifying marine parks and zoning considerations.

Importantly, the establishment of a marine park does not extinguish native title and is consistent with native title legislation.

Q. Who will manage and enforce Marine Parks?

Management and monitoring of marine parks will involve ongoing consultation and collaboration between all spheres of government, industry and community involved with, or with an interest in, the marine environment. Management arrangements for extractive resource industries regulated under legislation administered by PIRSA will continue to be enforced by its compliance unit.

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