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• FAQ's  ( 1 items )
• Development  ( 1 items )
  

  Development of A Western Australianrepresentative System Of Marine Reserves Vested In The MPRA
  

  

  The Western Australian Government has a long-term program to establish a State-wide representative marine reserve system, i.e. representative of the State's marine habitats and flora and fauna. Legislative provisions are included in the Conservation and Land Management Act that put this program into effect. It is a statutory function of the MPRA to recommend to Government proposals for marine reserves that will achieve this program.

  The Western Australian marine reserve system is intended to be Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative [the CAR principle]. Comprehensive means that the reserve system should include areas representative of all the State's marine bioregions. Adequate means that the size and location of each reserve should be sufficient to achieve the specified conservation, economic and social purposes of its reservation. Representative means that each reserve should properly represent the habitats and biota of the bioregion.

  Development of the Western Australian Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative marine reserve program is in accordance with national objectives to establish a National Marine Reserve system.

• Types of reserves  ( 3 items )
  

  TYPES AND PURPOSES OF MARINE CONSERVATION RESERVES

  Marine Protected Area (MPA) is an international term for marine places where legislative protection is provided for habitats, plants and animals and features of special aesthetic, scientific or cultural value. The main way this is done is to "reserve" and manage the place for a specified purpose or purposes.

  In Western Australia, marine reserves are established under three kinds of legislation -

  Special Acts of Parliament. The single example at this time is the
  Rottnest Island Authority.

  The Fish Resources Management Act 1994, which includes provisions for the establishment of Fish Habitat Protection Areas, managed by the Fisheries Department .

  The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (and subsequent amendments) that provides for the establishment and management of marine reserves vested in the MPRA. There are three categories of such reserve -

  • Marine Nature Reserve
  • Marine Park
  • Marine Management Area
• About MPRA  ( 3 items )
  

  

  The key functions of the MPRA are to:

  • Be the vesting authority with responsibility for the care, control and management of marine parks, marine nature reserves and marine management areas that are reserved under the provisions of the Conservation and Land Management Act.
  • Advise the Minister for the Environment on proposals for marine parks and reserves and their management.
  • Develop policies for the preservation of the natural marine and estuarine environments of the State and the provision of facilities for the enjoyment of those environments by the community and promote appreciation of marine and estuarine plants and animals and natural environments.
  • Submit management plans for marine parks and reserves to the Minister.
  • Develop guidelines for monitoring the implementation of management plans.
  • Set performance criteria and conduct periodic assessments on the implementation of management plans.
  • Promote necessary study or research.