Management of the Houtman Abrolhos System
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MANAGEMENT OF THE HOUTMAN ABROLHOS SYSTEM A DRAFT REVIEW 2007 - 2017 Prepared on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries by the Department of Fisheries (Western Australia) on advice from the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER No. 220 Published by Department of Fisheries 168 St. Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 February 2007 ISSN 0819-4327 Fisheries Management Paper No. 220 Management of the Houtman Abrolhos System A Draft Review 2007 to 2017 Prepared on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries by the Department of Fisheries (Western Australia) on advice from the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee February 2007 Fisheries Management Paper No. 220 ISSN 0819-4327 2 Fisheries Management Paper No. 220 CONTENTS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ...........................................................................................................5 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................7 1.1 MAJOR MANAGEMENT AND KEY STRATEGIC ISSUES ...................................................................7 1.2 ABROLHOS ISLANDS GOVERNANCE..............................................................................................8 1.3 MANAGEMENT OF THE ABROLHOS SYSTEM (FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER 117)........................9 1.4 AIM OF THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN ...........................................10 1.4.1 Conservation Values.......................................................................................................10 1.4.2 Cultural Values...............................................................................................................11 1.4.3 Recreational Values........................................................................................................11 1.4.4 Educational and Scientific Values ..................................................................................11 1.4.5 Commercial Values.........................................................................................................11 1.4.6 Social Values ..................................................................................................................11 1.5 MANAGEMENT GOAL .................................................................................................................12 1.5.1 Vision..............................................................................................................................12 1.5.2 Mission ...........................................................................................................................12 1.5.3 Primary Objectives.........................................................................................................12 SECTION 2 THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ......13 2.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AIMAC) ...................................................................................................................................13 2.2 ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE AIMAC SINCE 1996 .............................................................................14 2.3 INHABITED ISLANDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ..............................................................................15 2.3.1 Abrolhos Islands Land Management Sub-committee (AILMSC)....................................15 2.3.2 Waste Management.........................................................................................................16 2.3.3 Fire and Cyclone Management ......................................................................................16 2.3.4 Fixed Wing Airstrips and Helipads ................................................................................17 2.3.5 Anchorages, Moorings and Swimming Areas.................................................................17 2.3.6 Navigational Aids ...........................................................................................................18 SECTION 3 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ..............................................................19 3.1 GEOLOGICAL AND BIOGEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS.........................................................19 3.2 THE LEEUWIN CURRENT.............................................................................................................19 3.3 CLIMATE ....................................................................................................................................19 3.4 MARINE CONSERVATION WITHIN THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS........................................................20 3.4.1 Reef Observation Areas ..................................................................................................21 3.4.2 Sanctuary Zones or No-Take Areas................................................................................22 3.4.3 Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) ......................................................................24 3.5 TERRESTRIAL FLORA AND FAUNA MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH ............................................24 3.5.1 Inventory.........................................................................................................................24 3.5.2 Monitoring......................................................................................................................25 3.5.3 Threats to the Australian Sea Lion .................................................................................25 3.5.4 Introduced Weeds ...........................................................................................................26 3.5.5 Introduced Animals.........................................................................................................26 SECTION 4 HISTORIC AND HERITAGE SITES........................................................................27 4.1 OTHER HISTORIC SITES ..............................................................................................................27 SECTION 5 FISHERIES AND MARINE RESEARCH.................................................................29 5.1 SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES......................................................................................29 5.2 ABROLHOS ISLANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE................................................................................30 5.3 RESEARCH AND MONITORING PRIORITIES ..................................................................................30 5.3.1 Human Usage .................................................................................................................30 5.3.2 The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) .......................................31 SECTION 6 RESOURCE UTILISATION ......................................................................................33 6.1 COMMERCIAL FISHING AND AQUACULTURE ..............................................................................33 6.1.1 Western Rock Lobster.....................................................................................................33 6.1.2 Southern Saucer Scallops ...............................................................................................33 3 Fisheries Management Paper No. 220 6.1.3 Finfish and Finfish Sustainability...................................................................................34 6.1.4 Northern Development Purse Seine Fishery...................................................................35 6.1.5 Minor Fisheries and Coral Collection............................................................................36 6.2 AQUACULTURE...........................................................................................................................36 6.2.1 Aquaculture Governance................................................................................................37 6.3 RECREATIONAL FISHING ............................................................................................................37 6.3.1 Abrolhos Islands Recreational Fishing Regulations ......................................................37 6.5 INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT .....................................................................................38 6.6 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM .............................................................................................................39 6.6.1 Visitor Fees.....................................................................................................................39 6.7 BIOPROSPECTING........................................................................................................................40 6.8 MINING AND OIL EXPLORATION.................................................................................................40 SECTION 7 RESOURCING FOR MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE...............................43 SECTION 8 REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION .................................45 8.1 COMMUNITY LIAISON.................................................................................................................45 8.1.1 Abrolhos Islands Communication Plan ..........................................................................45 SECTION 9 USEFUL REFERENCES, ACRONYMS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........47 9.1 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PREVIOUS REPORTS AND LEGISLATION ........................................................55 9.2 ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................56