VEAC marine investigation

Marine investigation needs to be broader Victoria's marine environment is one of the most diverse in the world. Home to more than 12,000 species, 85% of them unique to our southern waters, it is of global significance. However, the Victorian Government's current approach to our marine environment lacks vision at a time when pressure is building on ocean health right across the world. Opinion polls show most Victorians support better protection and management of the marine environment, including marine national parks.

And yet our seas and shores are becoming increasingly neglected. It has been more than 10 years since Victoria saw its last major marine investigation - the time is ripe for a new, broad-based inquiry.

 

New marine inquiry announced

Recently the State Government committed to a new marine inquiry, but the proposed terms of reference are far too narrow and target only the small area of existing marine protected areas.

These terms of reference fail to take a much-needed, broader look at the many new and emerging threats facing our oceans.

We need a vision and comprehensive plan for the marine environment. One that:

• Deals with new threats and challenges to the marine environment.
• Maximises taxpayer money & community time.
• Implements all recommendations from the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) Report.
• Takes into account the need for comprehensive marine planning.
• Delivers on Coalition Election Commitments.

The Victorian National Parks Association welcomes the Victorian Government's release of the proposed terms of reference for a marine inquiry, but believes they are far too narrow and do not consider the threats and challenges to, and the management of, the entire marine environment - which is the only way of effectively managing ocean health.

As they stand, the draft terms of reference are for an investigation into Victoria's existing marine protected network only, and any ongoing biodiversity threats and challenges it may face. The effectiveness of management is also being assessed.

 

Delivering on Coalition election commitments

Prior to the 2010 state election the Victorian Coalition promised to initiate a VEAC investigation to: "Examine the outcomes from the establishment of existing marine parks and any ongoing biodiversity threats or challenges." (November 8 2010).

It also stated that the Coalition "will ensure that VEAC can continue its vital role in the protection of Victoria's diverse habitats and the sustainable management of our land, parks and coastal and marine life".

The current proposed terms of reference for the VEAC inquiry are too restrictive, and inconsistent with the Coalition's election commitment, widely interpreted as not being tied just to marine protected areas, but encompassing the entire Victorian marine environment.

The idea of assessing "...ongoing biodiversity threats or challenges" to the whole marine environment has great merit. It is more than 10 years since the last review, and there is now new science available. There are also new threats to and pressures on the marine environment - all compounded by the increasing impacts of climate change.

 

New challenges and threats to the marine environment

The VNPA's Marine Nature Conservation Review pin-pointed clear gaps in our current marine protected area network and also highlighted conservation values, critical habitats and threats.

These threats can be cumulative and include: ocean acidification, invasive species and pathogens, pollution and unsustainable fishing.

Our bays are also under pressure from port development with dredging and dredge spoil causing ongoing harm.

The only thorough way of assessing ocean health is through a comprehensive investigation of Victoria's entire marine environment, including looking at critical habitats, values and threats.

As with land-based national parks, the creation and management of marine national parks is a core conservation tool for keeping ecosystems healthy, but marine national parks should not be treated as a yardstick for the health of our entire marine environment.

 

Maximising taxpayer money and community time

Approximately 11% of Victoria's marine waters are in marine reserve type tenures, which include 5.3% in full no-take protection zones and around 6% in multiple-use areas. However, the bulk of the marine environment is managed outside protected areas.

To get the most value out of a marine investigation the taxpayer money being used to fund this inquiry should be spent on 100% of marine waters, not just 11%.

The VEAC consultation process is world class, and should maximise the extensive opportunities for community input.

 

Implement all of the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) report

The VAGO report into the environmental management of marine protected areas (link) raised some alarm bells about the failure of government to protect all coastal waters from invasive pests and diseases. It also recommended the development of a comprehensive marine pest biosecurity plan.

Another key finding of the VAGO report was the need for integrated policy and planning that considers the whole marine environment for effectively managing environmental threats.

This VEAC inquiry provides the State Government with an ideal opportunity to receive expert independent advice of how to properly implement all the VAGO findings.

 

The need for comprehensive marine planning

As with land-use planning, planning in the marine environment is also vitally important.

Our marine protected areas and broader marine environment exists within a complex policy and regulatory framework. There are a range of global conventions and commitments to protect the marine environment and 15 pieces of state and federal legislation with more than a dozen different strategies and plans governing and guiding our use of the marine environment. Many are uncoordinated and some are in conflict with each other.

The government needs to establish a new marine planning framework and draw up legislation based on the need to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than just treating them as commodities, the way our existing marine legislation does.

The need for a comprehensive approach to the marine environment was identified in the 2009 biodiversity white paper, Securing our Natural Future, which committed to developing a state-wide marine plan by 2014.

The need to consider opportunities for comprehensive marine planning and legislation is another key gap in these terms of reference.

 

VEAC terms of reference needs to be broader

The VEAC terms of reference come in two parts. The first sets out the scope of the inquiry, and this should be broadened to ensure that the entire marine environment is looked at, not just the small parts in marine protected areas.

There is a need for additional terms of reference that include a marine investigation that also examines and provides an assessment of:

• Ongoing threats or challenges to the whole Victorian marine environment and biodiversity, including opportunities for improved management and protection (note, this would be an additional term of reference - C).

Part 2 of the draft of the investigation also needs to give consideration to:

• Marine planning, including improved legislative and institutional models for managing the marine environment and coastal habitats.
• The recommendations from the Environmental Conservation Council's (ECC) Marine, Coastal & Estuarine Investigation Final Report, 2000.
• The finding from Australian and international scientific studies of marine protected areas.

 

How will the VEAC inquiry work?

There will be various opportunities for community input, including:

• Comments on the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, which closed on 19 August 2011.
• Two more public submission periods, including on a discussion paper and a draft proposals paper.
• A final report is expected to be delivered to the Victorian Parliament by 29 November 2013.

The period for comments to the terms of reference have now closed, but letters to the envrionment minister are still needed.

 

Why is this VEAC investigation significant?

The VEAC model is recognised as being of world class for independence, community consultation, and science-based process for natural resource management.

VEAC's predecessor, the Land Conservation Council, was established in 1971 by the Victorian Government. It was later renamed the Environment Conservation Council, and then VEAC, but its functions have remained broadly the same for 40 years.

 

About the VEAC marine investigation

The study will be carried out by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC), which has for years provided the State Government with independent, strategic advice relating to the protection and ecologically sustainable management of our environment and natural resources.

The terms of reference can be found on the Department of Sustainability and Environment website.

Write to Victoria's environment minister

Please write to Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith. His full contact details and points to make can be found on our useful tips for letters and submissions page.

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