Marine Park 4 Investigator Marine Park

Marine Park 4 4 Investigator Marine Park

Park at a glance • The habitats inside Investigator Marine Park provide critical baselines to measure any changes to the Investigator Marine Park is located off the west coast of State’s marine ecosystems that may arise over time South Australia. It includes the surf beaches south of Elliston, from, for example, pollution or climate change. the offshore Investigator group of islands and Cap Island Conservation Park. • Communities of plants, fish and other animals around the islands are influenced by the unusual conditions created At 1,185 km2, it represents 4% of South Australia’s by the mixing of the warm Leeuwin Current from the marine parks network. west and the cold Flinders Current from the south-east. Community and industry • The Nauo-Barngarla Aboriginal people have Boundary description traditional associations with the region. The Investigator Marine Park comprises • Commercial fishers target greenlip and blacklip the four areas set out below. abalone, southern rock lobster and scalefish species • The area bounded by a line following the seaward limit of such as snapper and King George whiting. the coastal waters of the State surrounding Pearson Island, • Historical features in the park include Veteran Isles and Dorothee Island. architectural relics of the sealing industry and • The area bounded by a line following the seaward limit of two shipwrecks, the Lady Flinders and Kapara. the coastal waters of the State surrounding Ward Islands. • Recreational fishing, and charter boat fishing, • The area (exclusive of Flinders Island above median high as well as diving in the waters surrounding water) bounded by a line following the seaward limit of Pearson Island and Topgallant Island, are popular. the coastal waters of the State surrounding Flinders Island and Top-Gallant Isles. Fauna and flora • The golden roughy (which is not known anywhere • The area bounded by a line commencing on the else in Australia) and the western blue groper rely coastline at median high water at a point 135°14’38.76”E, on important areas within this marine park. 34°8’27.2”S (at or about Point Drummond), then running progressively: • White-bellied sea eagles and ospreys nest on coastal cliffs, headlands and islands. ○○ north-westerly along the geodesic to its intersection with the seaward limit of the coastal waters of the • Little penguins and other seabirds nest and roost State at a point 135°11’56.62”E, 34°6’21.82”S; on islands inside the marine park, including Ward, Dorothee, Veteran and Pearson Islands. ○○ generally north-westerly along the seaward limit of the coastal waters of the State to a point 134°52’11.78”E, • Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur 33°42’45.97”S; seals breed and rest in the park. ○○ north-easterly along the geodesic to its intersection Habitat with the coastline at median high water at a point • Investigator Marine Park includes parts of the 134°54’25.78”E, 33°40’23.56”S; and Eyre Bioregion. ○○ generally south-easterly along the coastline at • Habitats typical of this region include: median high water (inclusive of all bays, lagoons ○○ granitic island mountains, intertidal and deep-water and headlands) to the point of commencement. boulder reefs, NOTE: This boundary description is indicative only. It does ○○ sheltered seagrass meadows in the lee of some islands, not describe inclusions and exclusions of specific land parcels. For this detailed information, please refer to the DEH website: ○○ cliffs and high-energy surf beaches along 4 www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or Surveyor-General’s office the mainland coast. for the relevant marine park plan (known as a Rack Plan).

For more information visit:

FIS 90349 www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or call 1800 006 120 . s d s e , e y r d 4 ) y a p 4 r l h e s l x y e t 9 o l s - e a g s p F

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- 0 0 ' ' 0 0 1 1 ° ° 4 4 3 3 1 1 S S S S S S " " " " " " 0 0 0 0 0 0 ' ' ' ' ' ' 0 0 0 0 0 0 ° 3 4 5 1 2 ° ° ° ° ° 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 Bioregions and South Australia’s marine parks network Eight biologically distinct regions have been identified off South Australia’s coastline. The State’s marine parks have been carefully designed to include parts of each bioregion and the various habitats within them. By including some examples of the marine biodiversity typical of the Eyre Bioregion, Investigator Marine Park contributes to the marine parks network’s goal of representing and protecting examples of the full diversity of South Australia’s marine life. The marine life, habitats and natural processes typical of this region include the remote offshore Investigator group of islands, as well as inshore ecosystems adjacent to the extensive coastal cliffs and high energy surf beaches of the mainland. The 14 marine park Design Principles To guide the initial identification and final selection of South Australia’s multiple-use marine parks, 14 Design Principles were defined and adopted by the Government. The seven Biophysical Principles and seven Community Principles help ensure the marine parks network meets the objects of the Marine Parks Act 2007, as well as South Australia’s national and international obligations for marine protection. The Biophysical Design Principles guided the identification of proposed marine park sites. The Community Design Principles were then applied to fine-tune site selection of the 19 multiple-use parks in the network. 4

For more information visit: www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or call 1800 006 120 Biophysical Design Principles Comprehensiveness and Representativeness Principles To meet the Principle of Comprehensiveness, examples of The seven Biophysical Principles address all habitats that occur in a bioregion need to be included environmental conservation. within whatever marine parks are in that bioregion. In the first instance, all parks were designed to To be Representative, all habitats in a region (e.g. reefs, meet the Precautionary Principle. Further, rigorous beaches, seagrass, mangroves) need to be included application of the Comprehensiveness, Adequacy across the full variety of physical situations in which and Representativeness Principles ensure the marine they occur (e.g. shallow and deep water reefs, low and parks network meets South Australia’s national and high energy beaches). This variety must be represented international marine protection obligations. within the combination of parks created in a bioregion. The remaining three Biophysical Principles helped to Habitats in the marine park include island environments, prioritise important local sites, to ensure the marine intertidal and deep water boulder reefs, sandy plains parks network maximises ecological outcomes and seagrass meadows in the sheltered lee of Pearson (South Australian Strategic Plan Target 3.4). and Flinders Islands. The Investigator group of islands The Precautionary Principle provides unusual examples of granitic island mountains The Precautionary Principle is a risk-management (inselbergs) that rise steeply from deep water. tool which requires action to be taken now in areas The shoreline of Flinders Island is a combination where scientific knowledge is not yet complete. of sheltered rocky shores, cliffs and sandy beach One of the ways the Precautionary Principle has on the eastern side and exposed sandy beaches on been applied in developing marine parks is to the western side. Habitats around other islands in include areas of unsurveyed seabed habitats. Investigator Marine Park are yet to be surveyed. 2 In the Eyre Bioregion, 14,973 km (80%) of seabed On the mainland, the coastal strip is mostly comprised habitat are yet to be surveyed. of calcarenite cliffs averaging between 40 and 50 metres As a precautionary measure, 1,098 km2 (7%) high. The cliffs are broken by high energy surf beaches of the unsurveyed habitat are included within such as Sheringa Beach. Surf beaches in this area are an Investigator Marine Park. Including unsurveyed unusual habitat type in that they are comprised of fine habitat increases the likelihood that all the habitats sediments, which usually support a higher diversity of existing in a region are included in a marine park. invertebrate animals living within the beach sands.

The Adequacy Principle Connectivity and Linkages Principle Adequacy is achieved if the marine park provides Connectivity describes how plants and animals move for both ecosystem integrity and the viability of whole between different places. Linkages refers to the transfer populations of species. of materials (e.g. organic matter) and energy flows. A marine park is considered to have achieved Adequacy Connectivity and Linkages both depend on the way if both it and the network it contributes to are large currents, tides and waves move water and on the abilities enough to protect the species and habitats found of marine life to move between different areas. there and close enough to connect populations. Investigator Marine Park provides continuous Connectivity Investigator Marine Park covers 1,185 km2 (4% of the and Linkages across many different habitat types along- whole network). It has been designed to include multiple shore from just south of Elliston to Point Drummond and examples of each habitat type where possible, at sizes offshore from the coastline to the limit of State waters. sufficient to contain viable populations of marine species. The marine park creates the opportunity to protect The Principles of Connectivity and Linkages, connected habitat systems. Sea lions, fur seals, penguins Resilience and Vulnerability and Ecological Importance and other seabirds all breed and rest on the islands, and also contribute to the Adequacy of a marine park. by extending the marine park to the limit of State waters Ultimately, Adequacy is closely linked to the success at least some of these animals’ foraging grounds – and the of marine park management plans with zoning. passage between the two habitats – can also be protected.

For more information visit: www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or call 1800 006 120 Connectivity and Linkages helps protect species short tailed shearwater, protected under international dependent on access to spawning, breeding conservation treaties, are also located on Ward Island. and nursery habitats that might be separated by State-wide surveys of blue groper identified Ward anything from tens to hundreds of kilometres. and Pearson Islands as being important to this The islands inside Investigator Marine Park constitute species. The surveys also identified a significant some of South Australia’s most remote landmasses. blue groper nursery area at Flinders Island. Here, the powerful, warm Leeuwin Current, transporting Unusual species with affinities for the Investigator nutrients and larvae from Western Australia, meets and islands include the light-emitting fish known as the mixes with the colder Flinders Current from the south east. golden roughy, which has been recorded within the Investigator Marine Park therefore provides unique marine park but nowhere else in Australia. Similarly, examples of the communities of plants and animals at least 10 species of ascidian (sea squirts) have been which result from these combined currents. recorded only in the Investigator Group Isles.

Resilience and Vulnerability Principle Perhaps due to the influence of the Leeuwin Current, a high number of macroalgal species with limited The combined Principle of Resilience and Vulnerability ranges and/or tropical affinities are found in the area. encourages the inclusion of places, plants and animals that are more susceptible to degradation or decline and/or less able to recover from damaging impacts. Less resilient habitats, plants and animals are less able to resist disturbances or pressures. More vulnerable habitats, plants and animals have less capacity to recover once pressures are removed. For example, some seagrasses may take decades or more to recover from disturbance. Seagrass beds at Pearson and Flinders Islands are the only significant examples of this habitat type for many kilometres. Being regionally isolated, they are particularly significant to the fish and other animals they support. Reefs such as those at Flinders Island are particularly rich in their diversity of invertebrate animals, which are less able to resist physical disturbances. Different populations of Australian sea lions at Ward Island and Pearson Island are either highly vulnerable or very highly vulnerable to human pressures.

Ecological Importance Principle Ward, Pearson and Dorothee Islands provide breeding sites for the Australian sea lion, while Veteran, Pearson, Topgallant and Cap Islands provide haul-out sites. New Zealand fur seals breed and haul out on Ward and Dorothee Islands and use the rock platforms at South Veteran and Pearson Islands for haul-out sites. Numerous seabirds of conservation concern utilise the Investigator group of islands for breeding and/or roosting. These species include colonies of little penguins on Pearson, Flinders, Veteran and Dorothee islands, and white-bellied sea eagles on Flinders and Dorothee 4 Islands. The protected white faced storm petrel and Community Design Principles Give Consideration to the Full Diversity of Marine Uses Principle Synergies with Existing Protected Areas Principle The Government is committed to designing marine By aligning with existing protected areas, marine parks parks for conservation and for sustainable use, in can contribute to the establishment of protected corridors close consultation with local communities and across the land-sea interface. Investigator Marine Park with minimal impact on existing activities. includes all the islands in the Investigator Group which The proclamation of the Investigator Marine Park does are currently protected as conservation parks. not change the way people use the marine environment, Complementing Existing Management Principle or change any existing land or sea-bed tenure. Management of South Australia’s marine parks will Wildcatch fisheries in the region target greenlip and blacklip complement, but not replace, current management abalone, as well as rock lobster around Ward Island and arrangements. By providing a more inclusive along the coast. Scalefish species such as snapper and King management framework, South Australia’s George whiting are also important. Proclamation of the marine parks network is designed to help existing Investigator Marine Park does not displace any existing environmental management practices. commercial fishing activity. The Government recognises that The District Council of Elliston and the District Council high-value catch areas occur within the marine park and will of the Lower Eyre Peninsula play important roles in work with stakeholders during the development of the managing coastal Crown lands which abut and, in some Investigator Marine Park management plan with zoning to cases, are included within the marine park. Investigator avoid displacing effort from those areas wherever possible. Marine Park management will seek to integrate with There is a minerals exploration licence within this marine existing local government management practices for the park. All existing licences and leases within Investigator continued care of coastal Crown land community assets. Marine Park will be accommodated, with no change to The Eyre Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board existing conditions. Marine park management will seek to is responsible for mitigating impacts on the marine integrate with existing management by the Department of environment from land-based activities. Ongoing Primary Industries and Resources (Minerals) to ensure that monitoring of ecosystem health in Investigator the mining industry continues to benefit from the area. Marine Park will help the NRM Board prevent Tourism is an important economic contributor to land-based pollution from reaching the sea. the region, with the coastal environment, fishing There is a fisheries netting closure established along the and boating the major attractions. Charter vessels mainland coastline from the northern end of the marine based in a variety of ports offer recreational fishing park to just north of Locks Well Beach. Management of and diving experiences around the islands. Investigator Marine Park will respect and complement Recreational fishing is an important activity in the existing fisheries management arrangements, and marine park. Recreational fishing opportunities will be will not change bag, boat and size limits or other maintained at Sheringa Beach and Locks Well Beach area-based fisheries management arrangements. and adjacent to freehold land on Flinders Island. Private Lighthouses are located at Pearson Isle and Flinders and charter vessels access Flinders, Ward and Pearson Island. The marine park will accommodate the ongoing Islands for offshore recreational fishing. Drummond management and maintenance needs of these facilities. Point is also a popular recreational fishing spot. Wherever possible, provision will be made in the Investigator The outer boundary of Investigator Marine Park does not Marine Park management plan with zoning to accommodate change existing recreational fishing and boating activities current and future economic, social and infrastructure and does not affect access to, or use of, jetties, break-walls requirements. Administrative agreements between agencies or boat ramps. Existing access for recreational beach will support streamlined assessment so that Investigator fishing will be maintained throughout Investigator Marine Marine Park does not create an extra approval process. Park, except in small areas designated as “sanctuary” or “restricted access” zones in the Investigator Marine Park management plan with zoning. This will be developed over the next couple of years with extensive community input.

For more information visit: www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or call 1800 006 120 Drummond Point, Pearson Island, The Dice and Topgallant Provide for Education, Appreciation Island are visited by divers for their numerous caves and and Recreation Principle tunnels formed by boulders as well as the abundant Investigator Marine Park was designed to ensure the marine life. things we enjoy in this environment continue, by helping to With input from a Marine Park Local Advisory maintain a healthy marine environment and our uses of it. Group, industry and the community, a management Further opportunities for education, appreciation and plan with zoning will be developed for Investigator recreation will be achieved through the zoning and Marine Park to cater for ongoing community use management planning process. of the area. The management plan will be subject to community consultation and every effort will be made Need more information? to minimise impacts on people and businesses. For further information, please see: Design Principles Guiding Respect Indigenous Interests and Culture Principle the Development of South Australia’s Marine Park Boundaries The Government is aware that there may be confidential and Technical Report on the Outer Boundaries of South Australia’s Aboriginal heritage sites in South Australia’s coastal Marine Parks Network. Both are available on the marine parks areas. Where possible, these sites have been considered website: www.marineparks.sa.gov.au or by calling 1800 006 120. in the planning process. Future management plans will ensure these heritage sites are appropriately respected. The Nauo-Barngarla Aboriginal people have traditional associations with the coastal land between Elliston and Point Drummond. Aboriginal people have expressed the aspiration to negotiate traditional Aboriginal fishing rights through an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). Investigator Marine Park will provide for continued traditional fishing in accordance with any fishing ILUAs.

Give Consideration to Cultural Heritage Principle The remains of the sealing industry at Flinders Island are listed on the State Heritage Register and two historic shipwrecks, the Lady Flinders (1937) and Kapara (1942) are also of heritage significance. The shore platforms are of Archaean Kiana granite, some of the oldest rocks in South Australia, and are a geological monument of state significance.

Ensure Ease of Identification, Compliance and Enforcement Principle Investigator Marine Park was designed to ensure ease of identification, compliance and enforcement where possible. The marine park boundary commences south of the Elliston township and extends to the prominent landmark of Point Drummond. Along the coastline, the marine park boundary lies at the median high water mark unless otherwise specified. Around the islands, the marine park extends to the limit of the State waters. 4