Environment groups call for Tasmanian marine reserves

The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Environment Tasmania
Tasmanian Conservation Trust
Ocean Planet Tasmania
Tasmanian Marine Naturalists Association

Media Release
17 March 2008

With the RPDC’s final recommendations on the establishment of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Bruny Bioregion to be handed down this week, environment groups have urged the Tasmanian government to follow through with protecting the extraordinary wildlife and unique habitats of the area through the establishment of key Marine Reserves.

“Marine reserves are crucial for conserving our marine biodiversity,” said Dr Jane Elek, President of the Tasmanian Marine Naturalists, “New reserves in the Bruny Bioregion will protect important species found nowhere else in the world – like the spotted handfish and the live-bearing seastar – as well as lots that have not even been scientifically described.”

At a recent presentation on the area, renowned local marine scientist Graham Edgar commented that the Bruny area has one of the highest levels of endemic species (those unique to one area) found in the marine environments globally, with many of these species threatened. Reflecting this spectacular diversity, internationally recognized National Geographic photographer David Doubilet rates Tasmania’s marine environment as the 2nd best in the world for interest to divers.

Christian Bell, CEO for the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, agrees, “Tasmania has taken on the challenge of establishing a representative network of Marine Reserves around the state, with the Bruny Bioregion the most worthy of reservation. Protecting key areas in this unique and extraordinarily special area will be an important step forward in sustaining Tasmania’s marine environment in the face of increasing threats from climate change, marine pests, fishing and development,” he said.

In other parts of Tasmania where Marine Reserves have been declared there have been rapid and significantly positive impacts on the marine environment.  For example, the total weight of lobsters in the Maria Island Marine Reserve increased ten-fold since the reserve’s establishment.

“If we protect some key marine areas in the Bruny Bioregion there will be direct benefits to the health of marine wildlife, the health of our fisheries, and the future of our entire marine environment,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Chairperson for Environment Tasmania.

“The Bruny Bioregion contains some of the world’s most spectacular marine wonders such as giant kelp forests. These marine wonders are an international attraction that is untapped and sadly they are fast disappearing. We have the potential here to create Tasmania’s own tourist mecca like the Great Barrier Reef if substantially larger no-take zones are established,” said Paul Oosting campaigner for The Wilderness Society.

Rebecca Hubbard, Coordinator for Ocean Planet, puts the proposed reserves into perspective on a global scale; “Internationally, scientists recommend at least 30% of each marine habitat is fully protected to ensure the survival of our marine wildlife and ecosystems. Yet the RPDC draft recommendations look at only setting aside about 5% of the Bruny Bioregion – with only a fraction of that fully protected in Marine Reserves.  This is a conservative proposal and should be straight forward for the state government to implement,” she concluded.