Consultation and Management
Consultation
Solitary Islands Marine Park Advisory Committee
Like all other marine parks, the Solitary Islands 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 majority of members were appointed in January 2006 following a call for expression of interest in community membership. The committee aims to meet around three times a year.
Solitary Islands Marine Park Advisory Committee
Name |
Representing |
|---|---|
Rus Glover |
estuaries and catchments (chair) |
Chris Connell |
diving |
Vacant * |
commercial fishing |
Terry Flanagan |
local government (Clarence Valley Council) |
Leif Lemke |
marine conservation |
Alistair McIlgorm |
marine science |
Darren Murray |
Indigenous people |
Bob Palmer |
tourism |
Gavin Smithers |
local government (Coffs Harbour City Council) |
Richard Taffs |
recreational fishing |
Vacant * |
spearfishing |
Vacant * |
marine conservation |
* Applicants currently in the process of being appointed.
Management
The zoning plan
Following extensive community consultation and input from the Solitary Islands Marine Park Advisory Committee, the Marine Park Authority finalised a zoning plan for the park. The plan, which came into effect from August 2002, establishes:
- sanctuary zones of approximately 8650 hectares, or 12% of the park, which provide the highest level of environmental protection. All fishing activities are prohibited
- habitat protection zones of approximately 38 860 hectares, or 54% of the park, which provide a high level of environmental protection while allowing many recreational activities such as fishing
- general use zones of approximately 23 920 hectares, or 34% of the park, where a wider range of activities including commercial and recreational fishing are allowed
- special purpose zones of approximately 57 hectares, or 0.1% of the park. These specially managed zones cover, for example, sites of cultural significance to the Aboriginal community, research sites and oyster leases.
For more information see the Solitary Islands Marine Park Zoning Plan 
67 Kb and the Solitary Islands Marine Park Zoning Summary, 2002 - 719 Kb.
The operational plan
The park’s operational plan, finalised after public consultation in 2003, outlines how the Marine Park Authority will manage Solitary Islands Island Marine Park in a sustainable way that is consistent with the objectives of the Marine Parks Act 1997.
The plan identifies actions in such areas as:
- conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological processes
- ecologically sustainable use
- Indigenous culture
- non-Indigenous heritage values
- research and monitoring
- community education and involvement
- compliance
- permits
- management arrangements with the Commonwealth Government (the MPA manages the Commonwealth’s Solitary Islands Marine Reserve on a day-to-day basis).
For more information see the Solitary Islands Marine Park Operational Plan, 2003 - 67 Kb and also the Solitary Islands Marine Park Recreational User Guide (LINK).