The Central Eastern Marine Park (formerly known as the Central Eastern Commonwealth Marine Reserve) is an Australian marine park that extends from the edge of the continental shelf, offshore of New South Wales and from Coffs Harbour, to about offshore into deep ocean waters. It incorporates the waters above most of the southern portion of the Tasmantid Seamount Chain. The marine park covers an area of and is assigned IUCN category IV. It is one of 8 parks managed under the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.
Conservation values Species and habitat Biologically important areas for the protected humpback whale, vulnerable white shark and a number of migratory seabirds. Represents seafloor features including: abyssal plain/deep ocean floor, canyon, pinnacle, slope, knoll/abyssal-hills/hills/mountains/peak, and seamount/guyot.
Bioregions and ecology Examples of the ecosystems of the Central Eastern Province, Central Eastern Shelf Transition, and Tasman Basin Province provincial bioregions and the Tweed-Moreton meso-scale bioregion. Canyons on the eastern continental slope (part of one of three shelf-incising canyons occurring in the region is represented). Tasmantid Seamount Chain (known breeding and feeding areas for a number of open ocean species such as billfish and marine mammals).
History The marine park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Central Eastern Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The management plan and protection measures of the marine park came into effect for the first time on 1 July 2018.
Summary of protection zones The Central Eastern Marine Park has been assigned IUCN protected area category IV. However, within the marine park there are three protection zones, each zone has an IUCN category and related rules for managing activities to ensure the protection of marine habitats and species.
The following table is a summary of the zoning rules within the Central Eastern Marine Park:
ZoneIUCNActivities permittedTotal area(km2) Vessel transiting Recreational fishing Commercial fishing Commercial aquaculture Commercial tourism Mining National Park II 8,110 Habitat Protection IV 61,336 Multiple Use VI 608External link: Zoning and rules for the Temperate East Marine Parks Network
See also
Protected areas managed by the Australian government
References
External links Temperate East Marine Parks Network - Parks Australia Temperate East Marine Parks Network - environment.gov.au (outdated)