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Marine Protected AreasThe Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) is the agency responsible for the declaration and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Commonwealth waters. Various state agencies are responsible for the declaration and management of MPAs in state waters. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) provides input on the declaration and management of MPAs in waters where Commonwealth fisheries operate. In the case of Commonwealth waters, input is provided to DEWHA through the Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas Committee. Input to state MPA processes is provided where appropriate during public comment phases or by invitation. The Australian Government released its Oceans Policy 1998 to provide a framework for integrated ecosystem based planning and management for Australian Commonwealth waters. A key component of the Oceans Policy is to develop Regional Marine Plans and also to accelerate the development of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). AFMA provides input on policy issues relating to the identification, declaration and management issues of MPAs and seeks Management Advisory Committee advice. AFMA also releases Management Briefs to the fishing industry (and other AFMA stakeholders) on pertinent issues directly related to industry. New Candidate South East Marine Protected Areas, December 2005On 14 December 2005 the Department of the Environment and Water Resources released proposals for a network of MPAs in the South East region. For further information on the most recent proposals, see the DEWHA website. Marine Protected Areas and Displaced Fishing: A Policy Statement, January 2004The Australian Government has developed a policy to address concerns expressed by the fishing industry regarding fishing effort displaced as a result of declaration or rezoning of Marine Protected Areas. The policy statement is the agreed Government position in relation to MPAs and displaced fishing effort. Page last updated 2 July, 2008 |
