New South Wales Government
Marine Parks Authority NSW

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1. Home
2. Jervis Bay Marine Park
3. Overview

Overview of the zoning plan Jervis Bay Marine Park

• Jervis Bay Habitat Protection Zone
• Key map. Zoning scheme of the Jervis Bay Marine Park (Map 1)
• Foreword
• Summary
• Introduction
• The zoning plan   
• Activities permitted in protective zoning
• Location of the zones within the Jervis Bay Marine Park
• Regulation of specific activities
• Species protection

Activities permitted in protective zoning

Table 1. Summary of activities permitted in each zone

Activity	Sanctuary	Habitat Protection	General Use
COMMERCIAL FISHING*
Line fishing
Hand gathering (pipis & beachworms)
Spanner crab netting
Crab trapping
Lobster trapping
Fish trapping (maximum of 10 traps)
Prawn trawling
Beach hauling		P (a)
Garfish hauling		P (b)
Restricted purse seine bait netting		P (c)	P
Lift netting for bait		P (d)
Setline/dropline
Longlining (surface & demersal)
Estuary mesh netting
Scallop dredging
Scallop collecting
COLLECTING
Collecting (scientific/educational)	P	P	P
Collecting for aquariums (private)*		P	P
Collecting for aquariums (commercial)
Collecting (recreational: bait, shellfish etc.)*		(e)
RECREATIONAL FISHING*
Line fishing
Trapping
Spearfishing		(f)
Netting		(g)
COMPETITIONS
Line fishing / Spearfishing		P	P
Surfing / Sailing	P	P	P
TOURIST ACTIVITIES
Recreational boating
Commercial whale watching	P	P	P
Charter fishing*		P	P
Personal water craft	(h)
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
Recreational
Charter operation	P	P	P
RESEARCH	P	P	P
AQUACULTURE*
Intensive aquaculture
Low-impact aquaculture		P (i)
ANCHORING	(j)
INFRASTRUCTURE
Development and maintenance	P (k)	P (k)	P (k)

Notes for Table 1

* Requires NSW Fishing licence/permit under the Fisheries Management Act.

P Permission required from Marine Parks Authority.

a) Beach hauling may be allowed in designated areas within habitat protection zones subject to meeting permit requirements (see Table 3 on page 23).

b) Garfish hauling may be allowed in designated areas within habitat protection zones subject to meeting permit requirements (see Table 3 on page 23).

c) Restricted purse seine bait netting, for live bait for own use by existing operators only, may be allowed in designated areas within habitat protection zones subject to meeting permit requirements (see Table 3 and Map 16 on pages 23 & 24).

d) Lift netting, for live bait for own use by existing operators only, may be allowed in designated areas within habitat protection zones subject to meeting permit requirements (see Table 3 and Map 16 on pages 23 & 24).

(e) Restrictions apply to the species that can be collected (see Species List in Table 5 and additional information on page 21).

(f) Spearfishing is prohibited in the Hyams Beach Habitat Protection Zone.

(g) Recreational nets permitted for the taking of prawns and crabs in the habitat protection zone are the scoop, landing, scissor (push) or hoop (lift) nets.

(h) Personal water craft are allowed to traverse sanctuary zones directly to and from the point of launching only, at a maximum speed of 10 knots.

i) Low-impact aquaculture (i.e. aquaculture which does not use supplementary food to grow the product under cultivation) of shellfish on long-lines is not prohibited in habitat protection zones, provided all the requirements of environmental and planning legislation are satisfied, including environmental assessment, public consultation and development approval†. Aquaculture in the Jervis Bay embayment cannot exceed more than two per cent of the area of the park.

(j) Anchoring is allowed in designated anchoring areas within sanctuary zones as specified in Table 2 (page 22). Anchoring is allowed in any zone when undertaken in the interests of safety of life at sea.

(k) Infrastructure development and/or maintenance may be approved subject to meeting the requirements of relevant legislation.

(Note: Species lists apply to the taking of species from the marine park – see Tables 4 and 5 on page 25).

† In addition to the normal detailed environmental approval process required for such projects, section 19 of the Marine Parks Act requires the consent authority to take into consideration: (1) the need to conserve marine biological diversity and marine habitats in the park; (2) the need to maintain ecological processes in the park; and (3) the need to provide opportunities for public appreciation and enjoyment of the park. The consent of the Ministers responsible for the Marine Parks Authority is also required.