Victorian Marine, estuarine and coastal conservation

[stuart dashper <>]

Dear All,

The Environment Conservation Council has released its draft
recommendations for the use/conservation of the Marine, Estuarine and
Coastal areas of Victoria. 
You can access the Report
at the ECC?s Website:
www.nre.vic.gov.au/ecc/index.htm.
 
The ECC is a Victorian Government advisory body that makes
recommendations concerning the balanced use of Crown Land in
Victoria.  The Draft Recommendations for its Marine, Estuarine and
Coastal Investigation of Victoria are the culmination of over 8 years of
work.
The ECC are inviting
public submissions on the Marine, Estuarine and Coastal Investigation
until 25 February, 2000 (brief extensions to this date are
possible, but you must contact the ECC prior to 25
February).  The ECC will hand final recommendations to the State
Government at the end of June 2000.

The ECC relies on
submissions from the public and this process offers a real chance to aid
the long term conservation of the coastal areas of Victoria. As you all
know large roosting/feeding areas for waders are contained within this
region that includes all of Western Port Bay, Corner Inlet etc. The
recent discussions on Little Tern and Hooded Plover also highlight the
need for conservation areas to be established in this ecosystem with a
focus on bird conservation. Submissions do not have to be long and can be
as detailed as you feel necessary. However I feel that the birding
community has not yet let the ECC know how important these areas are and
now is a good chance to rectify that situation. There has been
substantial opposition to the ECC recommendations (Summarised briefly
below) from sections of the fishing lobby and others and unless the ECC
receives support it is possible that their recommendations will not be
implemented. If you have the time please consider sending your
thoughts/local knowledge/information on the avifauna of this area and the
need to protect it to the ECC as a submission. Submissions can be very
general or quite specific about localities and species. Please do not
forget to congratulate the ECC, who in a far-sighted manner are proposing
the establishment of Marine National Parks to cover 6% of our coastal
waters. This is a great leap forward from the current situation where
only 0.05% of our coastal waters have a high level of protection.

I have a copy of some submission guidelines prepared by the Marine and
Coastal Community Network, a non-government community information
program, which I?m quite happy to send to people as an attachment
(although I?m off on holiday so you?ll have to contact me today).

The Marine, Estuarine and Coastal Investigation proposes
recommendations for the management of all Victoria?s coastal
waters.  The recommendations include proposals for new, and
recommendations for existing, marine protected areas.  It also
proposes new aquaculture ventures.
In summary, the ECC have proposed:

·       

12
Marine National Parks along the Victorian Coastline.  These
are highly protected i.e. no-take.

·       

11
smaller Marine Sanctuary Areas in specific locations. These are
also no-take areas.

·       

5
Marine Conservation Parks that take in the existing multiple-use
marine protected areas e.g. Bunurong, Corner Inlet.  No new
multiple-use parks are proposed.

·       

15
Special Management Areas that offer low level protection for
special sites.

·       

8
Aquaculture Zones where the ECC believes there is sufficient
information to progress aquaculture.

·       

7
Aquaculture Investigation Areas where further work is required to
define the exact areas suitable for aquaculture.

Contact Details.
Environment Conservation Council
3rd Floor, 250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne 3002
Phone

  

03 9412 5100    
Toll free 1800 134 803      
Fax 03 9412 5153
Email:

 

Website:
www.nre.vic.gov.au/ecc/index.htm

Regards
Stuart Dashper
VicGroup Conservation Committee.