Marine Biodiversity & Conservation

• Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Program
• Marine Conservation Programs

The marine environment is the common property of all South Australiana who value and enjoy a range of different activities, from fishing (recreational and commercial) diving, boating, surfing and nature appreciation. With such wide and varied usage, there can be times when conflict occurs among the different user groups. Evidences from around the globe clearly demonstrate the need to conserve parts of this important environment for present and future generations.

The South Australian Government is committed to the conservation of our marine and estuarine environments and the ecologically sustainable use of our natural resources. Government is currently developing its Living Coast Strategy, which will integrate the management and protection of South Australia's marine environment, coastal areas and estuaries for their long term productivity and conservation.

The Living Coast Strategy will assist the achievement of ecologically sustainable development by providing for an integrated approach to the use and management of the coastal and marine environments.

The Strategy builds on the South Australian Government's previous Our Seas and Coasts: A Marine and Estuarine Strategy for South Australia. Gaps in the current management of South Australia's coastal, estuarine and marine environments will be identified and strategies proposed to address these gaps.

The Living Coast Strategy will reinforce the commitments for the establishment of a Marine Planning Framework and a Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.

Working together for the future!

New Initiatives

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Program

Red and Green Algae (Photo: SARDI Aquatic Sciences)		The Loch Vennachar (1875-1905) shipwreck (Photo: Heritage Branch)		Leafy seadragon		Seastar and ascidian (Photo: Alison Eaton NPWSA)

Marine Conservation Programs

We are currently developing two new sites focusing on the protection of some of our marine species and on our varied and unique estuaries. Stay tuned!

DEH (Coast and Marine Branch) supports the Reefwatch project.

DEH (Coasts and Marine Branch) and PIRSA (Sustainable Resources) have assisted the DragonSearch program by providing funding and assistance with the development of a Code of Conduct for diving with seadragons.

To get involved in some terrific community projects such as monitoring reefs and weedy and leafy seadragons, or to find out about the Marine Discovery Centre, at Henley Beach check out some of these sites.

Community projects
http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/

Many South Australians love to drop a line off their boat or from the jetty and catch a fish for dinner. To find out information about how to fish for the future and learn more about Fisheries SA visit the following sites:

Fishwatch PIRSA
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/pages/fisheries/rec_fishing/fios_11.htm:sectID=1131&tempID=65

Fisheries PIRSA
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/dhtml/ss/section.php?sectID=7&tempID=16&force=1

Oil spills can potentially impact our marine and coastal environments and the South Australian Government is committed to preparing for such an event. For more information visit:

Oil Spill, Transport
http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/publications/environmt_pdf/oil_pollution.pdf

Our communities future well-being and prosperity depends on the maintenance of our biodiversity and the on-going capacity of species and ecosystems to evolve and adapt to environmental change. NatureLinks: Implementing the Wild Country philosophy in South Australia provides a bold vision for biodiversity conservation in South Australia across both terrestrial and marine environments. For more information visit:

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/naturelinks.html

For information about how Government is planning for the future visit:

Planning Strategy, Planning SA
http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=A1338ACE-96B8-CC2B-6441074DC0CE0767