23/03/2005 - The Australian
Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department
of the Environment and Heritage has invited
submissions on a draft management plan for
the Heard Island and McDonald Island (HIMI)
Marine Reserve.
Australia's most remote and isolated reserve,
HIMI is located in the Southern Ocean about
4000 kilometres south-west of Perth, Western
Australia.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said the World Heritage-listed
islands provided important breeding locations
for seabird and seal species such as the southern
giant petrel and southern elephant seal which
have high conservation status under federal
environment laws and international conventions.
"The waters of the Reserve surrounding
the islands provide valuable foraging grounds
for land-based marine predators such as king
and macaroni penguins, black-browed albatross
and Antarctic fur seals," Senator Campbell
said.
"The marine areas also contain important
sea floor habitats and unique and vulnerable
marine species that collectively make an outstanding
contribution to Australia's National Representative
System of Marine Protected Areas.
"The draft management plan includes
measures to ensure that the Reserve's values
are identified, protected and communicated
to the public, most of whom will never visit
this remote, wild and special place.
"There are comprehensive procedures
designed to prevent the introduction of exotic
species by humans to ensure protection of
important terrestrial and marine species,
habitats and ecosystems.
"It also includes measures to interpret
the cultural heritage values associated with
19th century sealing activities and the earliest
Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition,"
he said.
The draft plan takes into account submissions
received during an initial public comment
period in 2003. The closing date for submissions
is 4 May 2005.
The AAD, which manages the Reserve on behalf
of the Director of National Parks, will consider
all comments received.
