Public submissions on the proposed South Coast Marine Park were open for four months until June 16.

More than 20,000 individuals and organisations have made submissions during the most thorough consultation process ever undertaken for a proposed marine park in Western Australian (WA) history.

Feedback from submissions will be analysed and assessed over the coming months and a summary of public submissions will be made available along with the final management plan.

Marine parks are one of the three marine reserve categories that can be created under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. They are created to help conserve marine habitats, biodiversity and cultural heritage values, while allowing for a range of sustainable uses including fishing, diving, boating and tourism.

Marine parks conserve the marine environment for people to continue to use and enjoy into the future. WA’s oceans are among the healthiest in the world, but pressures on them are growing. Marine parks help protect areas that are still in the most natural condition. By conserving and maintaining healthy marine ecosystems we can help to increase their resilience against threats such as climate change, pollution and overuse of resources.
There is currently only one marine park in State waters on the south coast, the 1442 hectare Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. It protects the only permanently open estuary on the south coast but doesn’t extend into coastal waters.
The creation of the South Coast Marine Park will significantly contribute to WA’s network of marine reserves and Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. They will protect representative marine habitats, the region’s remarkable biodiversity and important cultural heritage sites, while allowing for sustainable use.

The proposed outer boundary of the marine park extends from Point Hood, near Bremer Bay, eastward to the WA-SA border. It extends offshore to the limit of coastal waters of the State. Coastal waters of the State extend three nautical miles seaward of the Territorial Sea Baseline, including around offshore islands. Port areas will be excluded from the final marine park boundary. This area has immense conservation, scientific and public recreation values, as well as value for commercial and recreational fishing activities.

Different zones in WA marine parks provide for different uses:

• General use zone - used to conserve the marine environment while allowing sustainable commercial and recreational activities to continue.
• Recreation zone - used primarily for recreational purposes, including recreational fishing where it is compatible with the primary recreation purpose of the zone. Commercial fishing is prohibited in recreation zones.
• Special purpose zone - zones with a specific conservation purpose, such as protecting marine habitats or cultural heritage values. Commercial and recreational activities that are compatible with the specific conservation purpose of the zone are allowed.  
• Sanctuary zones - provide the highest level of protection for marine plants and animals. These ‘look but don’t take’ areas are the only zones that prohibit all types of fishing and collecting, and mineral and petroleum extraction. People can continue to enjoy nature-based activities such as wildlife watching, diving, snorkelling and boating, in sanctuary zones.

After determining the proposed marine park outer boundary, the area was assessed to identify all the different habitat types to ensure that all the natural values within the marine park were adequately protected; and an analysis of use of the area was undertaken.

• Proposed sanctuary (no take) zones comprising 25 per cent of the park were designed to include representative (typical) areas of different habitat types and biodiversity, threatened species habitat, nursery or breeding areas, important cultural sites, and internationally and nationally recognised areas.
• Seventy-five per cent of the proposed park will remain open to commercial and recreational fishing.
• Social and economic factors have influenced the placement of zones to minimise impacts on existing use.  
• Tourism operations are an important aspect of the marine park, often enabling visitors to better appreciate and understand the area and its natural values. Commercial tour operators require a licence which allows them to operate in different zones of a marine park depending on their type of activity.
• Thirteen per cent of the park has been zoned special purpose (cultural protection / cultural management) and six percent as special purpose zone (whale conservation) with no restriction to recreational or commercial fishing.
• One per cent of the park has been zoned special purpose zone (wildlife conservation) which restricts commercial and recreational fishing other than hand collection of abalone, crustacean, octopus, aquarium fish and specimen shells.
• Sanctuary zones are important for research and monitoring so we can continue to learn about the marine park’s ecological, cultural and social values, detect impacts and manage change.

The proposed marine park is highly valued by the local community and visitors. The majority of activities which are undertaken in the proposed marine park – including swimming, diving, nature appreciation and four-wheel drive beach access will not change.

Yes, you will be able to continue to enjoy fishing in the proposed South Coast Marine Park. To conserve representative habitats and biodiversity, recreational fishing will not be allowed in sanctuary zones. The proposed park has been carefully designed to minimise impacts to recreational fishers while helping to ensure a healthy marine environment that will support sustainable fishing into the future. 
Following the public submission period, consideration will be given to moving the boundaries of some sanctuary zones 200 metres from the mainland high-water mark to allow for recreational fishing from and close to the shore.

Yes, commercial fishing is important to the region’s economy. Commercial activities will be allowed within the majority of the proposed South Coast Marine Park. To conserve representative habitats and biodiversity, commercial fishing will not be allowed in sanctuary zones. 

The proposed marine park has been carefully designed to minimise impacts to commercial fishers and incorporate any existing restrictions into management arrangements where possible. For example, current restrictions to commercial fishing activities on the south coast, such as the Australian sea lion Gillnet Exclusion Zones, have been considered in the development of the marine park zoning plan.  

Commercial fishers are encouraged to make a submission on the indicative management plans.  
Following the public submission period, consideration will be given to moving the boundaries of some sanctuary zones 200 metres from the mainland high-water mark to allow for recreational fishing from and close to the shore.

Commercial fishers who hold an authorisation and suffer a loss arising from the creation of a marine park in WA may be eligible for compensation under the Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act 1997.   
DPIRD is responsible for administering the Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act but is also exploring alternative adjustment or compensation measures for commercial fishers who may be impacted by the establishment of the marine park. 
 

Yes.  You will still be able to drive, camp or have a campfire on the beach anywhere these activities are currently allowed. Rules for terrestrial areas alongside marine parks are mostly determined by local authorities and not DBCA (except for national parks) so the marine park won’t affect these kinds of activities.  The marine park boundaries begin at the high-water mark. 

Yes, shore fishing from the beach will continue to be permitted in the majority of the proposed marine park. Sanctuary zones, which provide the highest level of protection for marine plants and animals, are proposed for approximately 25 per cent of the proposed marine park but will impact only about 22 per cent of the mainland coast (excluding estuaries and islands). 

Following the public submission period, consideration will be given to moving the boundaries of some sanctuary zones 200 metres from the mainland high-water mark to allow for commercial and recreational fishing from and close to the shore.

Yes, anchoring is permitted in sanctuary zones. You may have fish and fishing rods on board, but fishing gear must be stowed. You may not fish in sanctuary zones.

No, not in relation to the marine park. Beach access arrangements are matters for the relevant land manager and are a separate issue. As has always been the case, beach access can be temporarily closed for safety or other reasons. While temporary or seasonal closures can be used over the marine environment to protect wildlife values, the need for such closures has not been identified in the planning process.

You will be able to continue to bring dogs to any beaches where they are currently permitted by the relevant land managers. In marine park waters please ensure dogs stay on boats so they do not interact with marine life. As has always been the case, dogs can’t go ashore onto island nature reserves.

Personal drones are permitted in marine parks, subject to CASA regulations. Fishing with drones is permitted in general use and special purpose zones. Commercial drones require a license from DBCA

Spearfishing will be permitted anywhere line fishing is allowed (75% of the marine park). Sanctuary zones are no take areas where no fishing of any kind is permitted. 

No.

Moorings are permitted in marine parks in designated areas. Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices are not permitted in marine parks.

Community and stakeholder consultation has been ongoing since 2019 and has been integral to informing the planning and development of the draft plans. The primary engagement mechanism from late 2021 to early 2023 has been the Community Reference Committee (CRC), informed by Sector Advisory Groups that have provided local advice on the development of the indicative management plans, including the indicative boundary and zoning schemes. The CRC was formed to ensure views from the local community could be heard and was not a decision-making body.  

The proposed marine park is being developed in partnership with Traditional Owners, which is why the State Government has released four indicative management plans to align with four Native Title determination areas.  
Importantly, these four marine parks will be managed as one interconnected ecological system.

Yes, Aboriginal people are able to undertake customary fishing activities in the marine parks.
 

The marine park will be managed with the aim of encouraging visitors and locals alike. There will be a focus on tourism that respects the area’s cultural, ecological and wilderness values while enjoying a range of recreational activities. 

Yes. Anyone operating a tourism or recreation business in lands and waters managed by DBCA requires a commercial operations licence. DBCA provides operators with up-to-date information, news and marketing opportunities. By complying with licence requirements, operators also help to safeguard the beauty and diversity of WA’s natural environments and attractions.

You can stay up to date with the latest information by visiting the website at dbca.wa.gov.au/pscmp  

The proposed South Coast Marine Park is planned to be created in the second half of 2024. There will be a grace period before restrictions to commercial and recreational fishing come into effect.

Marine parks are vested in the Conservation and Parks Commission. Some areas may be jointly vested with Traditional Owners through the relevant body corporate. It is intended that the proposed South Coast Marine Park will be jointly managed by the area’s Traditional Owners and DBCA. DBCA also works closely with other State Government agencies, such as DPIRD, which manages fishing in WA marine reserves.