The paper outlines the vision, principles and processes the Authority will use in advising the NSW Government on management of the marine estate.

Following the Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks, the Authority, with guidance from the independent Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel, is driving implementation of the new approach to managing the marine estate.

“Given the passion the people of NSW have for their marine estate and their strong and wide-ranging opinions it’s important that the Authority is clear with the community about how the advice we provide to Government will be developed,” the independent chairperson of the authority, Dr Wendy Craik, said.

“Based on the Government response to the Audit our vision for the marine estate is to have a healthy coast and sea, managed for the greatest well-being of the community, now and into the future.”

Ten principles for managing the marine estate are contained in the paper, beginning with ‘effective community engagement to identify and prioritise benefits and threats’.

“There’s a clear focus on community consultation and seeking the community’s advice on what’s important to them about the marine estate. We will also be seeking their views on what they see as the threats to these values,” Dr Craik said.

“The paper shows how the authority will evaluate alternative uses and seek to maximise community benefits from the NSW marine estate.”

Further information is available at www.marine.nsw.gov.au, where the paper is available to view or download.

Conservation groups concerned

Unique and endangered marine life at risk from a NSW Government decision to wind back important protection measures along the coast has been documented in a new report published last week.

Revealing life beneath the waves in colour, the new report “Beyond the Beach: Exploring NSW’s underwater treasures” highlights the benefits of marine sanctuaries that allow fish and other marine life to recover and rebuild their stocks.

The report combines stunning photographs, compelling stories, and facts and figures that showcase NSW’s marine parks. It can be viewed at: www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/beyond

The NSW Government has taken the unprecedented step of allowing fishing in critical marine sanctuaries, which are like national parks of the sea. Less than 7 per cent of NSW waters are safeguarded in marine sanctuaries.

The report also focuses on how important the state’s marine parks and sanctuaries are for tourism.

Diving and whale watching tourism are worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the NSW economy and depend on a healthy marine environment full of fish and other marine life to continue to thrive.

“Sanctuaries are proven to help populations of fish and marine life rebuild so allowing fishing in the small areas set aside as sanctuaries will work against the interests of people who fish and all of us who want to see our marine life there for the future,” Nature Conservation Council of NSW chief executive officer Pepe Clarke said.

Clean up Australia chairman and founder, former Australian of the Year Ian Kiernan, AO, has written the foreword to Beyond the Beach.

“It takes time for the benefits of marine parks and sanctuaries to kick in, but when they do it’s a bonanza for regional economies and a foundation for sustainable fishing,” Mr Kiernan says

The Wilderness Society Sydney campaign manager Belinda Fairbrother said: “NSW is home to six incredible marine parks, from Cape Byron in the north, to Batemans Bay in the south, and Lord Howe Island far out east. These marine parks protect precious creatures like green turtles, dolphins, colourful reef fish, weedy seadragons and many species threatened with extinction.”

NSW Government’s most recent poll found 85 percent of NSW residents supported protecting some areas of the marine environment, even if it means recreational and commercial fishing is excluded. In Sydney, support increased to 89 per cent.