THE NSW Marine Parks Management Plan 2021-2031 public consultation ends this month.

With the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park making up one fifth of the states’ mainland marine parks, the NSW Government is calling for residents to have their say on the management plan review.

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The marine park extends from Cape Hawke near Forster South to Birubi Beach at the northern end of Stockton Beach and is approximately 980km2.

James Tremain, Senior Media Advisor at Nature Conservation Council NSW says that the review will have big impacts across the state.

“This review has huge implications for conservation of the state’s marine estate, a massive area that includes the ocean, estuaries, beaches, dunes, headlands, islands and coastal wetlands, seaward to three nautical miles (5.5km).

“Marine Parks in NSW extend along 500km of coastline, which is about 30% of the state’s coastal edge,” Mr Tremain said.

After the review, the government plans to both recreate and create zones for the parks and a suite of policies and programs to protect biodiversity and water quality, enhance fishing and recreational opportunities.

“Marine conservation has gone backwards in NSW over the past decade.

“The Coalition Government has wound back marine protections, allowing illegal fishing in sanctuary zones that were established to give marine life maximum protection.

“The conservation movement, including the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the NSW National Parks Association, is worried the Draft Management plan will continue that trend and further entrench the influence of some sectors – particularly the recreational fishing lobby and other commercial interests – ahead of the wider community interest in conserving our astonishing coastal and marine life for current and future generations,” Mr Tremain said.

The plan aims to seek information on areas including Aboriginal culture, commercial fishing, aquaculture, local government, marine conservation, marine science, maritime industry, recreational boating, recreational fishing, recreational water use and tourism.

NSW has five mainland marine parks (Cape Byron, Solitary Islands [Coffs Harbour], Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay and Batemans) which are to be investigated in the review.

Public consultation for the plan ends on 31 January 2022 and all NSW residents are encouraged to have your say via the website: https://yoursay.marine.nsw.gov.au/.

By Tara CAMPBELL