AUSTRALIA LEADS ON WORLD OCEANS DAY

07/06/2005 - Australia's world leadership in ocean management and protection has been highlighted on the eve of World Oceans Day (Wednesday, 8 June) by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell.
Senator Campbell said the Government's strong action on whale protection is just one example of Australia's international leadership on marine environmental issues.
"Australia's world leadership in the protection and sustainable management of our marine territory has been evident from our work with the international community for a global and permanent ban on commercial whaling, the greatly increased protection of the Great Barrier Reef and the Government's pioneering program of Regional Marine Planning," Senator Campbell said.
"With one of the world's largest ocean jurisdictions, Australia has set an example for other countries in how to sustainably manage our marine resources in the interests of future generations."
Senator Campbell said while there was still much work to do, he was proud of the Australian Government's achievements in the marine environment, including:
• The protection of corals, fish, turtles, dugong and other marine species of the Great Barrier Reef, lifting "no take" zones from 4.5 per cent of the Marine Park to 33.3 per cent, and a Reef Water Quality Protection Plan – underpinning the reef's $4.3 billion tourism industry, and commercial and recreational fishing industries. The Government continues to support commercial fishermen and others affected by the changes through a $56.3 million structural adjustment package.
• The declaration of six new Marine Protected Areas since 1996, increasing the marine protected area estate by approximately 68 per cent since 1996, including the Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Tasmanian Seamounts Marine Reserve, Macquarie Island Marine Park, Lord Howe Island Marine Park, Cartier Island Marine Reserve, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve.
• The development of a world-first Oceans Policy and creation of the National Oceans Office, which will deliver integrated Regional Marine Plans across our 14 million square kilometre ocean territory.
• The development of recovery plans for Australia's threatened marine species (including threatened whales, seabirds, seals, turtles and sharks) that identify the key threats to each of the species and identify actions to ensure ongoing recovery.
• Leadership in the protection of migratory marine species such as turtles and albatross by developing and promoting regional and global action under the auspices of the Convention for Migratory Species and on International Trade in Endangered Species.
• Working across Government to combat introduced marine pests including the introduction of mandatory controls on the ballast water of international shipping and a new emergency network to respond to marine pest incursions.
Development of a Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of harmful marine debris on threatened wildlife. The Government has also installed 160 gross pollution traps capturing urban debris and 23 waste reception projects in seaports and marinas as well as funding a $2 million clean-up of beaches in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and working with other responsible nations to attack the problem on-the-water and in ports. Australia urges countries to ratify and implement key international agreements and instruments; and to control and monitor the operations and activities of the vessels they flag, their ports and their nationals to ensure they operate in a responsible manner and in accordance with international law.
The assessment of management arrangements for all Commonwealth fisheries and all state fisheries exporting product by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage to ensure ecologically sustainable management of Australia's fisheries.
"As the international community focuses on challenges for the marine environment on World Oceans Day, Australian can be proud of its achievements," Senator Campbell said.