The largest and possibly the most sensitive and pristine of these is at Hare Bay, including Carama Inlet. Past proposals from conservation groups and individuals have identified the need to increase that boundary by a straight line from Wowly Creek to Longnose Point. The coastline adjacent to this area is almost totally undeveloped and mostly declared national parks. The significance of this area in terms of biodiversity and all natural values is second to none.

Those of us who understand the value of no-take
zones would obviously like to see all of this and other marine parks zoned as sanctuary. This would enhance the possibilities of achieving a desired 20 per cent of totally protected Australian coastline, leaving 80 per cent available for sustainable exploitation.

Other Sanctuary Zones in the Park have been established for their significance of biodiversity in a variety of geographical aspects of the bay and thus differing species of marine flora and fauna.

Habitat Protection Zones have been allocated to protect the large range of marine habitats such as rock platforms and rocky reefs, a range of sea grasses, and an abundance of marine plants and animals that flourish on the seabed and sandy benthos. These zones have been designed to restrict various activities and fishing methods in favour of techniques that won’t compromise the ecosystem and important marine breeding grounds.

Activities that don’t have an apparent adverse effect on this environment are not restricted. These activities include:

· purse seine fishing

· line and spear fishing (including competitions)

· netting and trapping, and

· jet skiing

Competition line and spear fishing has raised a lot of concern. Although guidelines have been tightened with regard to number, size and species caught, many feel that such an activity is inappropriate for a marine park where the prime objective is to enhance biodiversity and replenish fish stocks.

Jet skiing has been referred to as an offensive activity and was the second most significant issue highlighted in responses to the Marine Park Issues and Options Paper. I feel that this issue has not been adequately addressed in the draft plan and requires significant public input. (This activity attracts the most complaints made to authorities and has been banned in many waterways around the country including Sydney Harbour.)

Aquaculture is high on the agenda for commercial
promotion by the government and fisheries department. Claims have been made that aquaculture will lessen the impact on natural fish stocks and boost the commercial markets. The draft plan restricts the use of intensive aquaculture, ie fish farming that requires food input such as caged fish, to areas outside the embayment and a minimal amount of extensive aquaculture, ie no requirement for food input, within the marine park.

An area near Plantation Point is currently used for a small-scale mussel farming operation and has been catered for in the draft plan as a Special Purpose zone of 5.2 hectares. Intensive aquaculture has the potential to cause enormous environmental damage and should not be considered for a marine park. Extensive aquaculture has been said to have much less impact on the surrounding environment and may be tolerated on a small and more manageable scale. Strong support is required to ensure that aquaculture is kept to a manageable level and not become an environmental or even an aesthetic problem.

Special Purpose Zones have been created to accommodate activities and areas of special significance that don’t fall into the other categories. One of these is an area adjacent to HMAS Creswell which allows for naval boating activities. Another is in the entrance to Currumbene Creek at Huskisson. The latter is also an area of high boating activity and associated infrastructure.

Many locals feel that a large-scale boat marina in the outer bay of Huskisson would be detrimental to the planned Sanctuary Zone and heritage rock platform there and that facilities required should instead be accommodated in the existing harbour within the creek. The pressure of development at Huskisson continues to grow with the ever increasing threat of polluted run-off and ‘Gold Coast style’ highrise development. This issue must also be addressed in our submissions to the Marine Parks Authority.

The draft zoning plan is an important step in the management strategy of this unique marine park and requires the support of all who value its significance. This will ensure an everlasting economic as well as environmental future for Jervis Bay.

Jack Soeters 
is the President of the Jervis Bay Regional Alliance