The state’s marine estate is 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, yet only 7% of the state’s marine waters are conserved as sanctuary zones.
10.1 Create marine parks for the Sydney And Eden bioregions
The coastal waters of the Hawkesbury Shelf Bioregion (Sydney) and the Twofold Shelf Bioregion (Eden) support some of the state’s most astonishing marine ecosystems and species.
10.2 Declare 30% of marine waters sanctuary zones
The Commonwealth Government has committed to the international target of protecting 30% of marine waters by 2030. NSW must play its part by protecting 30% of state waters and marine bioregions in sanctuary zones.
10.3 End the amnesty on illegal fishing in sanctuary zones
In 2019, the NSW Government lifted a fishing ban in many sanctuary zones in marine parks, declaring an amnesty on illegal fishing.
10.4 Invest $20m to establish five marine science centres
Communities in regions adjacent to marine parks are clamouring for marine science education and research centres to enhance local appreciation of the need for marine conservation and to leverage the power of citizen science.
10.5 Invest $80m over 10 years in marine conservation research
Funding for expert scientific input into marine conservation policy formulation and decision making has declined significantly over the past decade and must be restored.