Report released: Senator Campbell says the current zones will be frozen until 2013.
Last Update: Monday, October 2, 2006. 12:43pm (AEST)

Reef review urges zoning plan freeze

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell says the Government will heed a recommendation from the controversial review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act that the current zoning plan be frozen.

Fishing is currently banned in one-third of the marine park.

The review released today recommends that there be no alterations to the zoning plan for at least seven years.

Senator Campbell says the Government will keep the current zones in place until 2013.

"The zoning plan process will be made more accountable and transparent," he said in a statement.

"Any future decision to review a zoning plan will be made by the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, who will also ensure that the process by which a review is undertaken is based on comprehensive scientific and socio-economic information, and community consultation."

The review was conducted after the introduction of the Representative Areas Program, which increased the number of areas in the park that are off-limits to fishing.

Senator Campbell says he recognises the changes have been difficult for local communities.

"The review has shown that there are still important lessons to be learned in protecting the marine environment, and implementing these recommendations will ensure future transparency and accountability," he said.

"This should go a long way towards addressing concerns raised by the fishing industry - particularly the need to strengthen planning processes."

Senator Campbell says retaining the current zoning plan for the marine park will provide certainty for businesses and the community.

He says any future changes will be based on research.

"What we've got to do is make it based on good science and the science at the moment says that this is an optimal level of zoning," he said.

"If the scientific reports come back in five years time, we should make zoning decisions based on the science."

The review also recommends that the Marine Park Authority continues to be based in Townsville.

It calls for an investigation to be conducted every five years into the effectiveness of the park's management and pressures on the ecosystem.

The review panel considered 227 submissions and held 36 consultations.