Changes to home of the giant crab

A NEW management plan for the South-east Marine Parks Network has come into force, bringing significant changes to zoning and activity regulations across the vast 701,927-square-kilometre network.

 One key area affected is Zeehan Marine Park, located southwest of King Island.

 Under the new plan, Zeehan now includes a National Park zone, in addition to its Special Purpose and Multiple Use zones.

 Covering 19,897 square kilometres, Zeehan serves as an essential nursery ground for blue warehou and ocean perch, with larval concentrations of these species found in its waters.

 The marine park is also home to Tasmanian giant crabs, which thrive in the region’s rocky limestone continental shelf habitats.

 The Apollo Marine Park, north of King Island, and the Franklin Marine Park, south of King Island, remain unchanged, continuing as multi-use zones.

 Covering 14 marine parks in Commonwealth waters off Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and Macquarie Island, the updated plan will guide the region’s ocean conservation and commercial activities until 2035.

 The new South-east Marine Parks Network Management Plan replaces the previous plan, which expired in June 2023.

 Among the most notable changes, zoning updates have been implemented in 11 of the 14 marine parks, including 2023 adjustments to the Macquarie Island Marine Park.

 The plan also tightens restrictions on some activities previously permitted in multiple use zones and strengthens regulations on industrial activities.

 The plan introduces strict prohibitions on certain industrial activities across the network.

 Deep-sea mineral mining, subsea carbon dioxide storage, offshore wind infrastructure, and offshore intensive aquaculture are now banned throughout the marine parks.

 Additionally, no new oil and gas titles will be issued within the network.

 However, existing oil and gas operations in the Zeehan Marine Park may continue under class approval conditions.

 The plan categorise fishing and commercial activities into three groups: Allowed without authorisation – Recreational fishing is permitted, except in Sanctuary zones.

 Allowed with authorisation – Commercial operations, research, and infrastructure projects require a permit, class approval, or activity licence.

 Prohibited – Some fishing methods and all forms of seabed mining are banned.

 Recognising the impact of these changes, Parks Australia has announced a demand-driven grants program to assist commercial fishers in adapting to the new rules.

 This assistance, set to be rolled out in 2025-26 and will be modelled after the 2019 Fishing Business Assistance Grants Program.

 More details on eligibility and application processes will be released soon.

 Parks Australia will work closely with marine park users in the coming months to educate stakeholders on the new rules and ensure compliance.

 The agency is also in the process of developing new class approvals and determinations, which will be progressively published.

 For further details, the full Management Plan and User Guide are available on the Parks Australia website.

 Enquiries can be directed to marineparks@dcceew.gov.au