Marine parks in regional areas can produce significant long-term regional development benefits and have been shown to enlarge the tourism base of coastal towns, attract research and education opportunities and ensure a strong sustainable fishing industry thereby increasing both the economic returns and employment opportunities for the community.

The iconic Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, for example, has brought international recognition to Queensland and Australia. Even without statistics it would be difficult to argue that Queensland has not received substantial economic wealth as a result of increased tourism. Although this marine park is multiple-use – permitting the full range of activities, including commercial fisheries — tourism is the principal commercial use for the marine park, with an approximate value in excess of $1 billion.1

The most popular activities in the park are snorkelling and scuba diving which, in comparison to fishing, are non-extractive, environmentally friendly activities, centred around an appreciation and respect of nature.

Another example, Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia, is one of the state's most frequently visited tourism destinations — with a fringing reef only metres from shore and the chance of seeing a giant whale shark the reasons for its popularity are obvious. Back home in NSW it is expected that newly declared Jervis Bay, Lord Howe Island and Solitary Island marine parks will become some of NSW's main tourist attractions.

In addition to a healthy tourism industry, marine parks offer considerable regional economic returns in the form of education and research opportunities.

A significant proportion of Townsville’s economy for example can be attributed directly to the presence of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The James Cook University is well known for specialising in tropical marine science, while the Australian Institute of Marine Science primarily focuses its research within the Park. Further, the central office of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is based in Townsville, as is the well-known Great Barrier Reef aquarium. These organisations all have considerable budgets and bring experts from all over Australia and the world to work in Townsville while also supplying substantial employment opportunities for locals.

Likewise, in Coffs Harbour there are a number of education and research centres that have been or are being established largely as a result of the Solitary Island Marine Park and the research opportunities that it offers. Southern Cross University now has a campus located in Coffs Harbour with a Masters in Marine Science being offered this year for the first time. The recent commissioning of the National Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour is another such example. These centres will offer substantial economic returns to the region in terms of economic contribution and employment opportunities.

Last but not least, the existence of marine sanctuaries (where fishing is prohibited) within multiple-use marine parks also contributes to the long term economic stability of a region. Many marine scientists now believe that it is necessary to protect at least 20% of the world's oceans in marine sanctuaries in order to ensure fishing can continue sustainably2. Research has shown that prohibiting fishing in some areas not only protects the habitats and ecosystems our fisheries depend on but also boosts catches in adjacent areas3. The ecological sustainability of fisheries in Australia has long been in question and marine sanctuaries will allow commercial fisheries to be a strong long-term source of economic activity, income and employment.

Examples like those mentioned can be seen to varying degrees throughout Australia and overseas. The protection of the marine environment in marine parks which have large sanctuary areas is not only a tool for saving the planet but also makes good economic sense.

KATE DAVEY 
is NPA's Marine Officer