Ocean Rescue 2000 What is it? Ocean Rescue 2000 is a major Commonwealth Government initiative that has as its prime objective the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment of Australia and its territories. It builds on existing marine conservation and management programs and complements other government environment initiatives including Landcare, Save the Bush, the proposed Biological Diversity Strategy and the proposed National Coastal Zone Management Strategy. What is our marine environment? Area: 8.94 million square kilometres, extending from the coast offshore to 200 miles or to the limit of the continental shelf, which ever is greater, and including waters around external territories (Christmas and Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean; Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean and Macquarie, Heard and McDonald Islands in the Southern Ocean). This area is larger than the Australian landmass by 16 per cent. Length of coast: 37,500 kilometres. Latitudinal range: from to 10 degrees south to 70 degrees south. Climatic range: tropics through to the Antarctic. Geographic range: coral reefs, rocky and sandy shores, mangroves and seagrasses, continental islands, protected shallow seas and exposed deep oceans. Species: many of significant conservation and economic value (whales, dugong, turtle, lobsters, prawns, tuna and shark). There is also a larger, more widespread aspect to our marine environment, as many species migrate long distances (e.g. turtles, whales and tuna) and oceanic currents can carry larvae, nutrients and pollutants throughout the south east Asia and Pacific region. The Ocean Rescue 2000 Program In August 1991, Ros Kelly, Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories announced that the Commonwealth Government would establish a 10 year marine conservation program called Ocean Rescue 2000. This program arose from an increasing recognition by Australians and governments that our coastal and marine environments are of fundamental environmental, economic and social importance, they are under threat and there is a need for their conservation and wise use. Australia's coastal and marine environments provide a source of food and other marine products, a means of transportation, a range of recreation activities and they support important industries of tourism, fishing and mining. However, resources are limited and are being degraded. There is competition and conflict between some user groups. There is reduced water quality and biological diversity because of pollution and habitat destruction. Many fish stocks are overfished. Ocean Rescue 2000 is being administered by the Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories (DASET), and the portfolio agencies, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA) The Ocean Rescue 2000 program has 6 key elements: - preparation of a State of the Marine Environment Report, - establishment of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, - development of an Australian Marine Conservation Strategy, - establishment of a National Marine Education Program, - establishment of a National Marine Information System, and, - development of a Marine-Coastal Community Network. The program recognises the particular roles and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and its success will depend on the involvement and support of all sections of the Australian community, including governments, industry groups, no government organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Contacts: Allan Haines DASET 06 2741440 Gordon Anderson ANCA 06 2500272 Peter Ottesen GBRMPA 06 2470211 The components State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER) This will be the first comprehensive national description and assessment of our marine environment, resources and the impacts of human activities. It will be an important input to the Australian Marine Conservation Strategy, to future reviews of the strategy, as well as providing a baseline and framework for future marine environment reporting. It should also provide a source of information that will help community understanding and consideration of marine issues, and assist all governments in planning and management. The report will focus on issues including endangered and endemic species, sensitive ecosystems, water quality, fisheries, mining, and tourism. Preparation of the report will involve extensive consultation with the scientific community. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will prepare the report which will be completed by July 1993. Contact: Dr. Leon Zannm GBRMPA 077 818811 National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas Marine protected areas are one important means of contributing to the conservation of the marine and coastal environments, including their biological diversity. Only 4.1 percent of Australian waters are classed as having some protection. This element of Ocean Rescue 2000 fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister in November 1990 when he announced at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature General Assembly in Perth that 'the Australian government has decided to work towards the expansion of Australia's marine reserve system. In association with State and Territory governments, we will investigate the establishment of a national, representative system of marine protected areas for Australia that will protect these areas, while permitting appropriate uses and promoting public education'. A national system will include marine areas chosen on the basis of representing marine biogeographic regions around the Australian coastline, offshore and in territorial waters. Elements of this system already exist, including the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Marine Parks and the many other marine parks and reserves in Commonwealth, State and Territory waters. Development of a national system will proceed on the basis of co-operation and between the Commonwealth and the State and Territory governments. The; contribution of each State and Territory in establishing its own system of marine protected areas will be the basis for the successful creation of a national system. The Commonwealth Government is funding the program while the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency are providing technical expertise. Contacts: Dan Claasen GBRMPA 077 818836 Gordon Anderson ANCA 06 2500272 Australian Marine Conservation Strategy An Australian Marine Conservation Strategy is intended to provide the information basis for conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment into the next century. The strategy will complement and link with other government initiatives including the Ecologically Sustainable Development process and the development of biological diversity, tourism and coastal strategies. The strategy will address a range of matters including pollution, tourism, fisheries, transport, traditional use and conservation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and marine protected areas, and will specify objectives and ways in which government, industry and the community can work together to achieve the objectives. Development of the strategy will involve extensive consultation. It will be developed by the Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories. Contact: Allan Haines DASET 06 2741440 National Marine Education Program This will 'inform and educate' Australians about the importance of marine conservation and sustainable use of Australia's marine environment and resources. The program will involve all levels of governments, industry and other user and interest groups. The goals of the education program are to assist public understanding and discussions about the sustainable use and conservation of our marine environment and encourage involvement in, and commitment to, other Ocean Rescue 2000 initiatives. It will build on and extend existing, marine education programs. This program is being managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority with the assistance and involvement of other agencies and interest groups. Contact: David Lloyd GBRMPA 077 818882 National Marine Information System This is intended to be an information base that includes all significant marine data on marine hydrology, oceanography, geology, biology and climate as well as types and levels of use. Information will be referenced to exact geographic locations and computerised. It is anticipated that such an information base will, in the long term, assist regional planning, identify areas that deserve protection, and monitor the condition of the marine environment. This system is being developed by the Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN) which was established to assist and service the information needs of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories portfolio. Contact: Dr. John Busby ERIN 06 2500384 Marine-Coastal Community Network The Marine-Coastal Community Network was announced in the Prime Minister's Environment Statement of 21 December 1992. The purpose of the network is to foster community involvement in marine conservation through facilitating information exchange and consultation. The network is co-ordinated by a non government organisation, the Australian Littoral Society, under funding provided through Ocean Rescue 2000. Contact: Gordon Anderson ANCA 06 2500272 OCEAN RESCUE 2000 LET'S WORK TOGETHER We all share the responsibility for ensuring that our marine environments are not damaged or polluted. Quite rightly, we look to our governments to make effective laws on those larger issues such as controlling industrial pollution and preventing overfishing. But in scores of ways, the responsibility rests squarely with all Australians; in our own homes and suburbs or towns, in our workplace or through our recreational activities. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING In response to these threats, the Commonwealth Government has launched Ocean Rescue 2000, a ten year conservation and management program for Australia's marine environments. Ocean Rescue 2000 is a national initiative which aims to bring together all available marine information and to provide expertise to assist in the development of long term plans to ensure the wise and sustainable use of all Australia's marine environments. If this aim is to be achieved it will involve all sectors of the community, including: local, State and Territory governments; recreational and commercial fishing organisations; tourist operators; recreational groups; industrial, technological and mining interests; and the coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. Ocean Rescue 2000 is being administered by the Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. It consists of six interrelated parts. The Commonwealth Government is ... extending laws and increasing penalties for pollution at sea. There are now laws to stop sea pollution. And it is now compulsory for oil carriers and other ships with hazardous cargoes to have an experienced pilot on board in protected and sensitive areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Penalties for breaching these laws have been increased. ... working in co-operation with the States, Territories and fishing industry groups to eliminate overfishing and create a system to protect fish breeding grounds so that fish stocks can renew themselves in a sustainable, natural cycle. ... through the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, funding projects to protect wetlands, estuaries and other sensitive coastal environments from inappropriate development. Nationally, hundreds of thousands of hectares of coastal wetlands, seagrass meadows and mangroves have been lost as a result of poorly planned developments. These are vital breeding grounds for a variety of marine life. ... funding and conducting research through its various agencies, particularly the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the CSIRO, into the effects of excess nutrients which are carried into coastal waters and estuaries adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef in run-off from urban, farming and grazing land. ... working with State and Territory environment agencies to control and eventually eliminate the discharge of harmful industrial waste into our waterways and oceans. ... managing many of Australia's spectacular marine and coastal parks and reserves, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (in co-operation with Qld), Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, Jervis Bay National Park and the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve (in co-operation with NSW) and Ningaloo Marine Park (in co-operation with WA), and working with States and Territories to establish a representative system of marine protected areas. ... working with State and Territory agencies to control the impact of tourists visiting sensitive coastal areas and to ensure these areas are not being "loved to death" We all can ... be aware that marine pollution can start in our own homes. Each year, Australian householders pour billions of litres of cooking and engine oils, and non-biodegradable detergents down their sinks and drains. This pollution eventually finds its way into the sewage and stormwater systems which ultimately lead to the ocean. ... always remember the golden rule: take what you need, and eat what you take. Taking more than you need, collecting live sea shells and other marine objects and throwing rubbish overboard all contribute to degrading and damaging our oceans. Whether fishing for fun or profit, we all must play a part in conserving fish stocks for the future. Get involved. Be aware. Be informed. Clean up rubbish from local beaches, estuaries and wetlands. Be ready to stand up and be counted. It's our environment, contributing to our wealth, well-being and enjoyment. Don't lose it. ... at home, if fertiliser is needed use a low release, or better still, organic fertilisers for domestic gardens and lawns. Use pesticides sparingly if at all. ... keep rubbish under control. Practically all street refuse not gathered by councils is washed down storm water drains and eventually ends up in the sea. Plastics, papers and rubber products are amongst the most damaging to marine animals. Whales and turtles can be killed by eating plastic bags which they mistake for jelly fish. ... visit a marine park or reserve. They're there for all of us to enjoy! Support the creation of more marine parks and reserves to protect marine life and fish breeding areas, to provide recreational opportunities, and to safe guard our marine heritage for future generations. ... if boating, always remember, if you take it out to sea, bring it back with you. Stow it, don't throw it. Don't forget many marine systems are fragile and care should be taken to avoid anchor damage. Admire marine objects not just for what they are, but also where they are... leave them here. ENJOY IT... DON'T DESTROY IT! State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER) This will be the first comprehensive description and assessment of our marine environment, resources and the impact of human activities. The report will provide baseline information for the Australian marine conservation strategy, the national marine education program, and for future environmental reporting. The technical report will comprise over 80 different topics which are being reviewed by experts in their respective fields. This will be summarised in a less technical overview report. National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas Through the Ocean Rescue 2000 program, the Commonwealth Government is working with State and Territory governments to expand the existing system of marine parks and reserves. In this way, representative examples of the full range of Australia's marine environments from coral reefs to estuaries, and from tropical waters to cold southern waters, will be managed and protected, while allowing a range of appropriate uses. One important objective of the program will be the protection of important areas of fish habitat to help safeguard marine fish stocks. Australian Marine Conservation Strategy The strategy will be an overall plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the Australian marine environment into the next century. The Strategy will be developed through consultation with governments, industry and the community. National Marine Education Program The National Marine Education Program is designed to inform all Australians on how we can work together to safeguard our marine environments for the future. It aims to provide accurate and timely information based on the latest marine research and will target the general community, schools, the media, industry and recreational groups. National Marine Information System The system being developed by the Environmental Resources Information Network will be a comprehensive computerised scientific information base. It will include significant data on all aspects of our marine environments including fisheries, mineral resources, ocean currents and climate, and the distribution of marine life around our coastline. Marine and Coastal Community Network The purpose of the network is to foster community involvement in marine conservation through facilitating information exchange and consultation. The network is co-ordinated by a non-government organisation, the Australian Littoral Society, with funding provided through Ocean Rescue 2000. RESCUE? FROM WHAT? Around the world scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the health of our oceans. Pollution, overfishing, and rapid development of coastal areas are having alarming effects! Many fisheries that have been feeding a hungry planet are in serious decline through overfishing. Some have completely collapsed, while in some others the toxic effects of pollution have made some seafood dangerous to eat. Pollution and poorly planned coastal developments are threatening many coastal lakes, wetlands, mangroves and estuaries which are the nurseries for many fish species and valuable bird habitats. The dumping of increasing amounts of untreated wastes has reached such a level that some seas are now "biologically dead". And, "Greenhouse" is a major global concern with unknown consequences for our marine environment. The ocean areas around Australia are some of the least polluted in the world supporting a great wealth of marine life. Our oceans feed us, and give us pleasure, pride and recreation. They give us wealth and they give us jobs. The world's coral reefs are declining. Elevated nutrient levels are considered a major threat to the inner Great Barrier Reef. Endangered marine species such as the great whales have been taken close to the point of extinction through hunting pressure. The vastness of our oceans and Australia's geographic isolation from the rest of the world have lulled us into believing they are an infinite source of plenty. Yet our fisheries too are under threat and some of our famous surfing beaches are contaminated by domestic sewage. Litter is found on even the most isolated beaches and, for many of us, using our local beach can be a health hazard at certain times of the year. The problems don't start at the beach front. Activities inland have a considerable impact, as sediment washed from land cleared for farming and building, animal waste from grazing areas, run-off from agricultural land, together with pesticides and fertilisers, are carried by rivers and streams into our coastal waters threatening fragile ecosystems. The pressure on our coastal waters has become critical. But if we have the foresight to recognise these threats and can learn from problems and solutions overseas we have the chance to rescue and protect one of our most precious and essential assets: .... Our oceans.