Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island Marine Park was declared in February 1999 and is 48 000 hectares in size. The NSW component of the marine park comprises all waters to 3 nautical miles and includes the Admirality Islets, Ball’s Pyramid and South-east Rock. A commonwealth marine park embraces the NSW marine park and extends 12 miles from the shore. Lord Howe Island is located 630km off NSW’s north coast and 700km north east of Sydney. It is a narrow volcanic strip surrounded by several small, environmentally sensitive islets.
The marine environment of Lord Howe Island is World Heritage Listed, having the world’s southernmost coral reef. In December 1982 Lord Howe Island and its surrounding waters were declared a World Heritage site, the first in NSW.
Lord Howe Island has an extensive barrier coral reef that protects a broad sheltered lagoon and sandy beach on the western side of the island, while fringing coral reefs lie immediately offshore of the beaches on the eastern side. Lord Howe is the only place in Australia where such a diversity fish, coral, algae and associated creatures can be seen by snorkeling just a few metres from the beach.
The Lord How Island Marine Park is currently without a zoning plan and NPA expects to see a draft plan in the next couple of months.
Once completed NPA would like to see well over 50% of the unique marine park in ‘no-take marine sanctuaries’. A figure close to 80% may be possible given the international significance of the waters and the low commercial and recreational pressures throughout the marine park.
Stay tuned for updated information or contact NPA Marine Project Officer on (02) 9299 0000 or email
marine@npansw.org.au for further information.