Zoning for Multiple Use

• Marine Park Zones
• Social and economic considerations

Snorkelling for crays (Photo: SATC)

A basic principle in the development of the South Australian marine parks is the recognition of multiple uses within marine parks. Multiple use marine parks will provide for ecological sustainable use, whilst at the same time providing for conservation and protection of the marine environment. Most activities, including recreational and commercial fishing, will still be allowed within a marine park boundary, however, there will be particular zones or periods of time where some activities will not be permitted. The exclusion of some activities may be necessary to protect significant habitats, species, and ecological or cultural features within a marine park boundary.

• For each marine park, a management plan will feature a combination of zones and special purpose areas to manage activities and uses.
• Each zone offers varying levels of protection by managing recreational and commercial use.
• Marine parks will provide for economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits for local communities.
• Wherever possible, every effort will be made to accommodate existing uses when developing marine park management plans.

Marine Park Zones

The type of zones which may be used within a marine park include:

In each marine park, a combination of zones and special purpose areas will be used to manage activities and uses. The pilot Encounter Marine Park provides an example of how different zones may be utilised.

Encounter Marine Park Draft Zoning Plan (600Kb PDF)

General Managed Use Zone - to provide protection for species and habitats within a marine park, whilst allowing ecologically sustainable use. General managed use zones provide for a full range of commercial and recreational activities, provided they are sustainable and consistent with the overall objectives of the South Australian representative system of marine protected areas (SARSMPA).

Habitat Protection Zone - to provide protection for species and habitats within a marine park, whilst allowing for activities that do not harm habitats or the functioning of ecosystems. Habitat protection zones provide for a wide range of commercial and recreational activities, including line fishing and lobster potting. However, in order to provide protection for marine species and their habitats some activities such as gill netting, trawling, aquaculture and mining will not be allowed.

Sanctuary Zone - to provide a high level of protection for the marine environment, where the removal or harm of plants, animals or marine products is prohibited. Sanctuary zones, also known as 'no-take' areas are the core conservation areas of marine parks. The objective of sanctuary zones is to conserve and protect marine ecosystems in their natural condition, recognising that every species of plant, fish or animal has an important role to play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Low impact activities such as diving, snorkelling, beach walking and boating are allowed in sanctuary zones, all of which provide for recreational and economic opportunities linked to nature-based tourism. By protecting the marine environment in its natural condition, sanctuary zones also provide important baseline sites, against which we can compare and measure the sustainability of our use in other areas.

Restricted Access Zone - to provide protection and conservation for unique and biologically significant habitats within a marine park. Restricted access zones, also known as 'no-go' areas are generally the smallest component of a marine park, and prohibit public access.

Special Purpose Areas - are an overlay to marine park zones, and are used to provide for a specific use or management outcome. Special purpose areas may be used to provide a greater level of protection in a specific area or to accommodate an existing use or activity. The flexibility provided by special purpose areas enable marine park management plans to be tailored to meet specific management needs, maximising the range of economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits that marine parks can generate.

Social and economic considerations

The State Government recognises that the marine parks may displace existing uses in some areas, in order to achieve broader public benefit (eg biodiversity conservation). The balancing of conservation with extractive resource use is a complex equation with key stakeholders needing to be informed and involved in the decision making process. Thorough planning and pragmatic zoning of marine parks, incorporating local community and industry input will ensure that South Australia's marine parks have the least possible impact on existing marine users, whilst at the same time protecting the health of the marine environment.

For more information on the management arrangements for displaced commercial fishing and aquaculture, please refer to Fishing & Aquaculture.

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