A major new report into NSW’s Solitary Islands Marine Park (NSW SIMP) confirms the national significance of this subtropical biodiversity hotspot, while recommending significant improvements to the management of the Marine Park to keep pace with growing challenges to its’ condition and values.
The report, authored by marine scientist Iain Watt, Solitary Islands Marine Park: Safeguarding a Unique Marine Protected Area has been prepared by the National Parks Association of NSW under a grant from the City of Coffs Harbour.
NPA Conservation Campaigner Danielle Ryan said the report arrives in a critical period when both the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments are reviewing their management of Marine Parks.
“Located where tropical and temperate waters converge, the park supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including more than 550 species of reef fish, over 100 coral species, and is intrinsically linked to local wellbeing and livelihoods.
“The report highlights the broader significance of the park’s connection to the region: the adjoining Commonwealth Solitary Islands Marine Park and a suite of terrestrial Protected Areas, including the newly announced Great Koala National Park, contribute to one of Australia’s most significant ridge-to-reef conservation landscapes, spanning approximately 600,000 hectares.” said Ms Ryan.
The report’s assessment finds that, while the marine park delivers important conservation outcomes, there is an urgent need to strengthen protection to ensure the long-term health of this unique ecosystem.
NPA Coffs Coast President Grahame Douglas said the report confirms that the park’s marine sanctuary zones support greater fish abundance, biomass and species diversity than adjacent seas.
“Marine sanctuaries punch above their weight. They are widely recognised as the gold standard for ocean conservation, helping marine life thrive and delivering benefits for recreational fisheries.
“However, the report warns that the current extent of the SIMP sanctuary zones are well below national and international conservation benchmarks. NSW SIMP’s marine sanctuaries make up only 12% of the entire park, the lowest of all East Coast state marine parks (NSW and QLD). The Great Sandy MP is approximately 8.5 times larger than NSW SIMP — its entire sanctuary zone area is larger than the whole of NSW SIMP.
Key recommendations in the report include:
- Expanding highly protected marine sanctuary zones towards 30 per cent of the park area using best-practice marine planning principles, in line with Australia’s commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework.
- Establishing a formal joint management framework between NSW and Commonwealth Governments to better manage and plan across the connected Solitary Islands marine ecosystem.
- Transfer primary NSW management responsibility out of a resource portfolio into an agency with a conservation mandate to ensure management can fulfill the GBF goals.
- Nominating NSW SIMP and adjoining Commonwealth marine park waters for National Heritage Listing, recognising the region’s unique values.
- Embedding co-management with community, as well the Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr Nations. Formal legislated joint management should be created with First Nations.
Ms Ryan said “I think our local Coffs community will be very excited by the idea of promoting the inshore and offshore Solitary Islands Marine Parks for heritage listing. The Coffs region was Australia first certified ECO Destination, providing a pathway to enhance our community’s credentials.
“Decisions made over the next few years will determine whether this nationally significant marine park continues to thrive in the face of increasing pressures from climate change and human impacts.”
ENDS
Media Contact: NPA NSW (02) 9299 0000
- Conservation Campaigner, NPA NSW, Danielle Ryan
- President, NPA Coffs Coast Branch, Grahame Douglas