Marine bioregional plan for the North Marine Region prepared under the
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- 1.3 Application of the plan
- 1.4 Key elements of the plan and supporting information
1.2 Goal and objectives of the planThe North Marine Bioregional Plan aims to strengthen the operation of the EPBC Act in the region to help ensure that the marine environment remains healthy and resilient. The plan will be used by government and industry to improve the way the marine environment is managed and protected. Consistent with the objectives of the EPBC Act, and in the context of the principles for ecologically sustainable development as defined in the Act, the plan sets the following objectives for the region: conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem health ensuring the recovery and protection of threatened species improving understanding of the region’s biodiversity and ecosystems and the pressures
The marine bioregional plan will contribute to these objectives by: supporting strategic, consistent and informed decision-making under Commonwealth environment legislation in relation to Commonwealth marine areas supporting efficient administration of the EPBC Act to promote the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources providing a framework for strategic intervention and investment by government to meet its policy objectives and statutory responsibilities. The North Marine Bioregional Plan describes the marine environment and conservation values of the region, identifies and characterises the pressures affecting these conservation values, identifies regional priorities and outlines strategies to address them, and provides advice to decision-makers and people planning to undertake activities in the North Marine Region in relation to some of the region’s conservation values. 1.3 Application of the planThis plan is for the North Marine Region, which covers the Commonwealth marine area (Box 1.3) extending from west Cape York Peninsula to the Northern Territory–Western Australia border (Figure 1.2). The plan does not cover state or territory waters but, where relevant, does include information about inshore environments and the way they interact with species and habitats of the Commonwealth marine area. Figure 1.2: North Marine Region Under section 176 of the EPBC Act, once a bioregional plan has been made, the minister responsible for the environment must have regard to it when making any decision under the Act to which this plan is relevant. The plan does not alter the scope of the minister’s statutory responsibilities, or narrow the matters the minister is required to take into account or may wish to take into account in making decisions. The EPBC Act provides that this plan is not a legislative instrument. This plan will commence six weeks after it is approved by the minister.
Figure 1.3: Australia’s maritime zones 1.4 Key elements of the plan and supporting informationThere were five key steps in the preparation of this marine bioregional plan. 1.Characterisation of the marine region Currently available scientific and other information were used to describe the bio-physical environment and socio-economic characteristics of the marine region and its conservation values, including Key Ecological Features, protected places and species and species groups protected by the EPBC Act. This information was combined in a Bioregional Profile for the region. 2.Regional analysis of the conservation values The pressures potentially affecting conservation values were identified and characterised against a scale of concern in relation to their impacts on the values. The regional pressure analysis was informed by peer reviewed scientific literature and its findings subject to external review by experts in the relevant fields. The outcomes of the regional pressure analysis are described in schedule 1 and informed both the identification of regional priorities (Part 4) and regional advice on matters of national environmental significance (Schedule 2). 3.Development of regional priorities The regional pressure analysis assisted in the identification of conservation values that were, or potentially were, adversely affected by multiple pressures, as well as pressures that were impacting on multiple conservation values. Where warranted by the level of concern, these conservation values or pressures have been identified as regional priorities and consideration given to the strategies required to address them (Part 4). 4.Development of regional advice The regional pressure analysis has also informed the development of regional advice in relation to matters of national environmental significance. This advice has been prepared to assist people planning to undertake activities in Commonwealth marine areas to better understand and comply with their obligations under the EPBC Act, including helping them to decide whether to refer their proposed activity and determine what information would most usefully accompany any referral. 5.Public consultation on the draft marine bioregional plan This marine bioregional plan was released in draft form for a 90 day public consultation period. The comments received have been taken into account in finalising this plan. The plan is made up of a number of parts and is supported by a suite of information resources. The plan Part 1 (this part) of the plan provides context about marine bioregional plans. Part 2 of the plan describes the conservation values of the North Marine Region. Part 3 presents a summary of the analysis of pressures affecting conservation values in the region undertaken to inform the development of regional priorities. Part 4 introduces the regional priorities and outlines strategies and actions to address them. Schedules Schedule 1 of the plan presents a full description of the pressures on the conservation values of the North Marine Region that have been assessed as being of concern or of potential concern. Schedule 2 provides specific advice on matters of national environmental significance in the region. This regional advice will assist people who plan to undertake activities in, or potentially impacting on, the Commonwealth marine environment to better understand and meet their obligations under the EPBC Act. It will also assist in deciding whether a proposed action should be referred to the minister for assessment, and identify any information that is likely to be important as part of the referral. Glossary A glossary of terms used in this plan and relevant to marine bioregional planning is located at www.environment.gov.au/marineplans. Conservation values report cards The conservation values report cards contain comprehensive information about the conservation values of the North Marine Region. Conservation values include species and places protected under the EPBC Act and key ecological features. There are three types of conservation value report cards: protected species groups Commonwealth marine environment (including key ecological features) protected places. The report cards support the information provided in this plan and are available at www.environment.gov.au/marineplans/north. They include: a description of the conservation values of the region an overview of the vulnerabilities and pressures on the conservation values (of concern and of potential concern) a list of relevant protection measures references.
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, as the Australian Government department responsible for administering the EPBC Act, maintains a suite of interactive tools that allow users to search, find and generate reports on information and data describing matters of national environmental significance and other conservation values in the marine environment. The Conservation Values Atlas is designed to provide a visual representation of
A number of important reference documents for the North Marine Region are available at www.environment.gov.au/marineplans/north. Directory: system -> files -> pages pages -> Grey-headed Flying-fox Management Strategy for the Lower Hunter Grey-headed Flying-fox pages -> Key Threatening Process Nomination Form pages -> Key Threatening Process Nomination Form pages -> List of cites species for the Purposes of the Act as amended pages -> Offshore pelagic shark and teleost surveys Objectives pages -> Approved Green Army Projects to begin in the 2015/16 financial year pages -> Australian Government pages -> Assessment of the queensland marine aquarium fish fishery pages -> 2012 Assessment Period Manta alfredi Download 0.96 Mb. Share with your friends:
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