Marine protected areas - insurance policies for our future
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was the centerpiece of the world's first truly global conference focusing on Marine Protected Areas which took place in Geelong, Victoria between 24 Oct 2005 and 28 Oct 2005.
Green turtle
© WWF-Canon/Jürgen FREUND
The eyes of the world's leading practitioners in marine conservation were focused on the GBR not because it is the world's biggest marine park, but to learn more about how the use of the latest scientific techniques and a comprehensive consultation with the communities and park users can help to provide a safety net for marine biodiversity along the length of the park.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) safeguard the ocean's rich diversity of life while supporting local economies. They provide a safe haven for commercial fish stocks as well as endangered species and offer alternative sources of income for local people, for example through tourism. Marine parks therefore act as an insurance policy for the future both for marine life and local people.
At the International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC) in Geelong, the attention of almost 700 scientists and marine resource managers from more than 60 countries was on the GBR's creation of the world's first comprehensive, adequate and representative network of fully protected areas (areas where no commercial or recreational fishing is allowed).
A key focus of the conference will be understanding how to better plan for and manage for the future impacts protected areas will face over the next 30-50 years, including threats from poor water quality and climate change.
Once again, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority provides an example of world's best practice as a locally based statutory authority, able to take a long-term, forward looking approach to put in place survival strategies and to preserve its value as one of most well known and loved global icons.
In recognition of the GBR's zoning plan as a pioneering development in marine conservation that sets the benchmark for marine protected area network establishment in Australia and around the world WWF awarded the Australian Government our highest accolade, the Gift to the Earth.
WWF-Australia's Marine program leader Gilly Llewellyn said the spotlight on the GBR comes close on the heels of the announcement that the Australian Government will take a fresh look at planning for activities within the entire Commonwealth marine real estate.
"The real challenge that lies ahead for Australia is to ensure that a network of MPAs is established which covers all major marine habitats around the country, and that these protect all significant sites for biodiversity and critical habitats for marine species, setting precautionary science-based targets for each habitat type," said Ms Llewellyn.
