Lord Howe Island Marine Park - Consultation and management
Consultation
Like all other marine parks, Lord Howe Island Marine Park has an advisory committee made up of representatives of various local community and stakeholder groups. This is the main avenue for consultation.
The current Lord Howe Island Advisory Committee was appointed following a call for expressions of interest in committee membership.
Lord Howe Island Marine Park Advisory Committee
Name |
Representing |
|---|---|
Brian Busteed |
charter boat operators |
Pat Dignam |
community |
Tasman Douglas |
scuba diving |
Dean Hiscox |
tourism |
Geoff Kelly |
Manager, Lord Howe Island Marine Park |
Ian Lucas |
community |
Dr Kerry McFayden |
marine science |
Greg Pierce |
Lord Howe Island Board |
Nick Rigby |
Lord Howe Island Board |
Jack Shick |
recreational fishing |
Rhonda Wilson |
marine science |
Jim Whistler |
community |
Wider consultation
The MPA holds local public meetings on important issues relating to Lord Howe Island Marine Park and conducts public surveys from time to time. Both are advertised.
Members of the public are welcome to contact the marine park office.
Management
The zoning plan
Developed following extensive consultation, the Lord Howe Island Marine Park zoning plan came into effect in late 2004. It establishes:
- sanctuary zones of 12 500 hectares or 27% of the park providing the highest level of protection for habitats and significant or threatened species
- habitat protection zones of 34 000 hectares or 73% of the park designed to ensure ecological sustainability and also allow uses such as recreational fishing and some forms of commercial line fishing
- 3 special purpose zones of 1.7 hectares or 0.004% of the park providing the same level of protection as sanctuary zones but allowing limited fish feeding.
The operational plan
The operational plan, released in 2004 after public consultation, outlines how the Marine Parks Authority will manage Lord Howe Island Marine Park in a sustainable way that is consistent with the objectives of the Marine Parks Act 1997.
In developing the plan, the Authority took account of strategies of other agencies, in particular the Lord Howe Island Environmental Plan 1986, which covers all State waters surrounding the island, and the Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth waters) Management Plan 2002.
The operational plan covers:
- conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological processes
- management for ecologically sustainable use
- culture and heritage
- research, monitoring and survey
- community education and involvement
- compliance
- management arrangements with other agencies
- performance management.
For more information see the Lord Howe Island Marine Park Operational Plan, 2004.