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The Great Australian Bight Marine Park (State and Commonwealth Waters)

Ross Belcher

Great Australian Bight Marine Park, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

Theme: TH3

The values of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park will be presented, highlighting marine mammals, benthic life and sediments, and multiple-use. The planning process will be outlined including community and industry participation and engagement, and input from research agencies. South Australian waters of the Marine Park were declared in 1995 and 1996, and adjoining Commonwealth waters were declared in 1998. The Park was established under State and Commonwealth legislation. The SA plan of management was approved in 1998 and the Commonwealth plan in 2000. These plans will be reviewed on a five-yearly basis. Both State and Commonwealth sectors are managed as one park. The Park is zoned for multiple use, including a no-take no-entry sanctuary and seasonally-closed zones, and addresses benthic trawling and petroleum exploration. Management strategies include joint State and Commonwealth administration, community participation, performance assessment, public information, partnership agreements, and compliance and enforcement. Tourism, especially enterprises run by indigenous organisations, are a newly-developing economy in the region and fit in well with the management of the Marine Park. The Great Australian Bight Marine Park complements tourism, industry, and natural resource management in the region.