DepartmentofParksandWildlife  17DickPerryAvenue KENSINGTONWA,6151  28/1/2016  

DearSir/Madam,

WWF-Australiasubmission:ProposedLalang-garrum/HorizontalFallsandNorth Lalang-garrammarineparks,andproposedOomedayNationalParkdraftjoint managementplan(2015)

ThankyouforprovidingWWF-Australiawiththeopportunitytocommentonthe proposedLalang-garrum/HorizontalFallsandNorthLalang-garrammarineparks,and proposedOomedayNationalParkdraftjointmanagementplanandthemanagement planningtherein.

WWFistheworld’sleadingpoliticallyindependentconservationorganisationwith nearlyfivemillionsupportersandƒnetworkofconservationprogramsoperatingin morethan100countries.WWFworksby“Theme”and“Ecoregion”andhasworkedfor morethanƒdecadeintheKimberleyasthisregionrepresentstwothemesǦEndangered SpeciesConservationandMarineConservationǦandfallswithinoneofWWF’sglobal 200Ecoregions,TropicalMarineȂWA.Ecoregionshavebeenidentifiedbasedon biodiversityvalueandthreatonƒglobalscale.

WWF-Australia(hereafter“WWF”)havelongrecognisedHorizontalFallsandthe surroundingmarineandterrestrialenvironmentsasinternationallysignificantwith respecttonaturalandculturalvalues1,2ǤOverthelastdecade,wehaveworkedtoensure thesevaluesareaffordedthehighestlevelofprotectionthroughworkingwiththe WesternAustralian(e.g.,KimberleyScienceandConservationStrategy)andAustralian Governments(e.g.,NationalHeritageListingfortheWestKimberleyandIndigenous ProtectedAreaprograms).ThroughourregionalofficebasedinBroome,wehave workedwithlocalcommunitiesandkeystakeholdersonƒrangeofprojectsinthe regionincludingtheKimberleyCoastalTourismProject(whereweworkedwith TraditionalOwnerstomanagetourismpressuresontheKimberleycoastandhelped establishnewtourismenterprisessuchasWanjinaTours)andinshoredolphinresearch (wherewehaveworkedwithuniversityresearchersandcoordinatedtrainingfor

1 Mustoe, S. & M. Edmunds. 2008. Coastal and Marin e Natural Values of the Kimberley. Report produced for WWF-Australia. 57 p. 2 Anon. 2012. The Kimberley Coast. The Last Sanctuary: Nine Iconic Places. Published by Environs Kimberley, PEW Charitable Trusts, WWF-Australia, The Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Marine Conservation Society and others. 28 p.

1 IndigenousRangers).WWF’sworktoprotectHorizontalFallsextraordinarynaturaland culturalvaluesisreflectedbyhavingmorethan3,650supporterssendsubmissions throughtheWWF-Australiawebsiteonthisdraftplan.

WWF’spartnershipprogramsacrosstheKimberleyaddresskeythreateningprocesses withlocalTraditionalOwners,otherlandmanagersandmanagementagencies.We recognisehowvaluabletheimplementationofnew,jointmanagedterrestrialand marineparksaretoaddressingkeythreatsintheKimberleyandapplaudthe DambimanagariTraditionalOwnersandWesternAustralianGovernmentfor developingthesenew,jointlymanagedmarineparksandnationalpark.WWFexpect thesenewparkswillresultinincreasednumbersoflocalpeopleworkingoncountry, essentialformanagingkeythreateningprocesses,andthatthereareappropriate budgetstoallowlocalcommunitiestoaddressthesethreats3Ǥ

TheproposedLalang-garrum/HorizontalFallsandNorthLalng-garrammarine parks,andproposedOomedayNationalParkdraftjointmanagementplan(2015) HorizontalFallsandthesurroundingterrestrialandmarineenvironmentcontain extraordinarynaturalandculturalvalueswhichdeserveprotectionaspartofthe KimberleyConservationandScienceStrategy.Weappreciatethattheproposedjoint- managedMarineParksandtheNationalParkformallyrecognises,andattemptsto conserve,theinternationallyrecognisedvaluescontainedwithintheirboundaries.

Positiveoutcomesfromtheplaninclude:

x ClearandagreeduponjointmanagementarrangementsbetweenDambimangari TraditionalOwners(theDambimangariAboriginalCorporation)andthe DepartmentofParksandWildlife(DPaW). x Deliberateandstrongcohesionbetweenmanagementoftheterrestrial conservationestateandtheproposedmarinepark,especiallywithrespectto boundariesandmanagementofculturallyimportantsites. x Theestablishmentofeightmarinesanctuariesinimportantenvironmentssuch asTurtleReef,WalcottInlet,KingfisherIsland,StorrIslandandtheGlenelgRiver. Thesewillestablishthefirst-everprotectionoftheKimberley’sinternationally significantestuaryhabitatswhilealsoprotectingsomeoftheKimberley’smost uniquecoralreefhabitats. x Theestablishmentoftwospecialpurposezonesthatprovideforenhanced recreationalecotourismopportunities(includingrecreationalfishing)intwokey locations.Thesezonesremovethethreatofminingaswellassomecommercial fishing(trawlingandgillnetting).

3 Van Bueren, M et al. 2015. Working for Our Country. A review of economic and social benefits of Indigenous land and sea management. A report published by PEW Charitable Trusts and Synergies Economic Consulting. 64 p.

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x ThepermanentprotectionoftheworldfamousHorizontalFallsfromcopper miningthroughthecreationofOomedayNationalPark. x Increasedbudgetformanagingnaturalandculturalvaluesoftheregion, includingforeducationandinterpretation,research,andpatroland enforcement.

Improvementstotheplan

ThefocusofWWF’ssubmissionwithrespecttoimprovementstothedraftplanwill focusontheproposedLalang-garramandNorthLalang-garrammarineparks.

WWFrecognisethecreationofƒjointlymanagedmarineparkliftsthelevelof protectionforthemarineenvironmentaroundHorizontalFalls;however,we recommendthattheplanneedstobeimprovedtofulfilitsstrategicobjective.We believethattheplanfallswellshortofitsstatedaimto“protectandconserve biodiversityandecologicalintegrity”(p.42)and“protectmarinefaunaincludingspecies ofspecialconservationsignificance”(p.44).Thereasonthedraftplanfailstodeliveris that:

ǦtheomissionofHumpbackwhalesasƒ“highpriorityvalue”.Giventhisisthe world’slargesthumpbackwhalenursery,wecanonlyassumethiswasƒmistake. Humpbackwhalesshouldbeƒhighpriorityvalue,andthewatersknowtobeƒnursery shouldreceivethehighlestpossibleprotection,howevertheplanaspresentedhasmost ofthewatersknowntobeƒhumpbacknurserynotprotectedinsanctuaryzonesor specialpurposezones,and,

Ǧallowsdredginganddredgespoildumping,seismictesting,andgillnetfishing tooccurwithintheboundariesofthepark.Theoutrageabouttheprospectindredge spoildumpingintheGreatBarrierReefMarineParkhassetnewstandardsand expectationsandwewouldexpectsimilarstandardsintheKimberley.

Recommendation1:Ngununbany(whales,bothbaleenandtoothed)needtobe includedasƒHighPriorityValue.

WWFsupportstherecognitionofJalawadda(marineturtles),Walyn(dugong), Jigeedany(dolphins),Goiyoiya(estuarinecrocodiles)andsharksandraysashigh priorityspecies(p.22-23).Giventhewaterswithinthetwoproposedmarineparksare alsopartofthelargestHumpbackWhalenurseryintheworld4(Fig.1),with somewherebetween28,000and42,000whalesmigratingtocalve,breedandfor trainingeachyear5ǡwerecommendthatNgununbany(specificallyHumpbackWhales) arealsorecognisedasƒHighPriorityValue.

4 Curtin Sustainable Tourism Centre. 2010. Kimberley Whale Coast Tourism: Opportunities and Threats. Report for The Wilderness Society (WA), July 2010. 5 http://kimberleywhales.com.au/

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Fig.1.Distributionofthehumpbackwhalecalving,trainingandbreedinggrounds(Source:Curtin SustainableTourismCentre6).

ThisinternationallysignificanceHumpbackWhalenurseryisidentifiedinthedraftplan (p.10)andisalsorecognisedbytheDambimangarriTraditionalOwnersasoneofnine keytargetstomanageontheircountry7ǤWWFnotethelackofprioritisationofthe humpbackwhalenurseryinthismarineparkisƒsignificantlostopportunitybythe WesternAustralianGovernmenttoensurethishighprofilespecies(andoncehighly endangeredspecieswithWesternAustralianpopulationaslowas500individualsin 19638Ȍisadequatelyprotected;ƒspeciesthathassignificanteconomicbenefittothe

6 Curtin Sustainable Tourism Centre. 2010. Kimberley Whale Coast Tourism: Opportunities and Threats. Report for The Wilderness Society (WA), July 2010. 7 Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation. 20120. Dambimangari Healthy Country Plan. 2012-2014. Prepared for the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation by Dambimangari Traditional Owners. 8 Jenner et al. 2001. Geographic and temporal movement of humpback whales in Western Australian waters. Journal of Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association 41: 749-765.

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WesternAustralianeconomyasitunderpinsƒlargewhaletourismindustryalongthe WesternAustraliancoast9Ǥ





Plate1.HumpbackWhalebreachingontheKimberleycoast.Copyright:Wallaceaeexpeditions.com

ThroughnotidentifyingHumpbackWhalesasƒhighpriorityvalue,thewhalenurseryis notadequatelyprotectedintheparkfromseismictesting,dredginganddredgespoil dumping.BynotincludingHumpbackWhalesasƒhighpriorityvalue,thezonation withintheplanhasnotconsideredthewhalenurseryasanimportantvaluetoprotect insanctuaryzoneswhichexposesthewhalestoknownkeythreatssuchasseismic testingandprawntrawling(asoutlinedinLalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarinePark Plan10).ThedraftplanforLalang-garram/HorizontalFallsandNorthLalang-garram marineparksstatesthesenewmarineparksaremeantto“complimentthemanagement objectivesofthejointlymanagedobjectivesoftheLalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarine ParkPlan”(p.14).However,CamdenSoundMarineParkclearlyidentifiesthewhale nurseryasimportantandhassetasidespecialmeasuresforhumpbackwhale conservation(e.g.,seesection2.3.1oftheCamdenSoundMarineParkPlan10).In CamdenSoundMarinePark,twosanctuaryzonesandƒspecialpurposezonefor“whale conservation”wereputinplaceto“reducedisturbancetohumpbackwhalesandtheir newborncalvesattheirmostvulnerablestageoflife”(e.g.,seeFig.2).Thesezonesneed tobemirroredwithintheLalang-garram/HorizontalFallsandNorthLalang-Garram MarineParks.

9 Knowles, T. & Campbell, R. 2011. What’s a whale worth? Valuing of Whales for National Whale Day. Report for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Prepared by Economists at Large, Melbourne, Australia. 10 Department of Parks and Wildlife. 2013. Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park management plan. 2013-2023. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth.

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Fig.2.ThefinalpageofƒbrochureproducedbytheWesternAustralianStateGovernmententitled “Lalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarineParkFrequentlyAskedQuestions”.





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Recommendation2:AdditionalsanctuaryzonesarerequiredinbothMarine Parks.

WWFisconcernedthatthedraftjointmanagementplanhasnotfollowedthemarine designprinciplesadequately(p.72).Webelievethisoversightwilljeopardisethe extraordinaryoutcomesthatarecontainedinthisjointmanagementplan,and representsƒsignificantlostopportunitytoappropriatelymanagethenaturaland culturalvaluesoftheKimberleymarineenvironment.

AswithprevioussubmissionsonmarineparksinWesternAustralia,WWFwouldliketo takethisopportunitytomakeclearthatsanctuaryzonesareanessentialtoolforthe protectionofmarinebiodiversityǤTheneedforƒcomprehensive,adequateand representativesanctuaryzonessysteminlargemarineparksisstronglysupportedby themarinesciencecommunity;locally,nationallyandinternationally.Wecontendthere isnoreasonwhytheseprinciplesshouldnotbefollowedinthisplan;infact,the significantnaturalandculturalvaluesofthisregionneedtobeaffordedthehighest levelofprotectionsimilartothatofNingalooMarineParkandtheGreatBarrierReef MarinePark.

Webelievethattheconcernofsomestakeholdersabouttheuseofsanctuaryzonesis dueinlargeparttoƒlackofclarityabouttheirprimarypurpose:sanctuaryzonesare vitalfortheprotectionofbiodiversity.Sanctuaryzonesrestoreandprotectnatural populationstructures,ensuringthatthemyriadcomplexrelationshipsinanecosystem canfunctioneffectively11,12ǤTheyarecentraltoconservingmarinebiodiversityȂ especiallyinareasthathaveinternationallysignificantvaluessuchasthemarine environmentaroundHorizontalFalls.Theycanalsoprovideusefulservicestofisheries management,butbiodiversityprotectionistheirprimarypurposeandtheycaneasily bejustifiedonthatbasisalone.

Inadditiontotheeightsanctuaryzonesidentifiedinthisdraftplan,webelievean additionalfivesanctuaryzonesarerequiredtoprotecttheHumpbackWhalenursery andotheruniqueelementsinthemarineenvironment.

SouthCollierBaySanctuaryZone

Aspreviouslyoutlined,thedraftplanneedstocomplimentthezoningofLalang- garram/CamdenSoundMarinePark.AlthoughMontgomeryReefisprotectedinthe MontgomeryReefSanctuaryZoneoftheLalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarinePark, thehighlyproductiveandecologicallysignificanthabitatsaroundMontgomeryReef

11Lesteretal.2009.Biologicaleffectswithinno-takemarinereserves:ƒglobalsynthesis.Mar.Ecol.Prog. Ser.384:33-46.

12Nursey-Bray,M.2011.Morethanjustfishybusiness.literaturereviewofthebenefitsofmarineparks. 39p,UniversityofAdelaide.



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whichextendsouthintotheLalang-garramȀHorizontalFallsMarineParkarecurrently unprotectedinthisdraftplan.Notonlydotheyrepresentimportantshallowwater systems(includingcoralreefsystems),thesewatersarealsopartoftheknowncalving groundforHumpbackWhales.Asiscurrentlyplanned,theseimportantcalvinggrounds remainunprotectedfromfuturethreatsincludingseismictesting,dredgingand commercialfishingactivities.Establishingƒmarinesanctuarysouthwardstoaround 16o18’SfromtheMontgomeryReefSanctuaryZonewouldincreasethe complementarityofthezoningplanwiththeLalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarine Park.

Moolgoodna/BoobyIslandSanctuaryZone

Asoutlinedinthisdraftplan,theNorthLalang-garramMarineParkhasnosanctuary zones.Thisdoesnotrepresentinternationalnormswithrespecttozoningwithinƒ marineparkandalsodoesn’tadheretothedesignprinciplesoutlinedonp.72.We recommendƒsanctuaryzonebelocatednorthoftheChampagnyIslandsSanctuary ZoneandtheJunguluSpecialPurposeZonewithintheCamdenSoundMarinePark. ThesemarinewatershavebeenidentifiedbytheAustralianGovernmentasƒ biologicallyimportantplaceforcalvingandnursinghumpbackwhales.Itisalso importanthabitatforcoastaldolphins,wooddooroo(coralreefs)andMoolgoodna (BoobyIsland)isƒsignificantbreedinggroundforseabirdsincludingBrownBooby.

Byimplementingthiszone,theWAGovernmentwouldincreasecomplementaritywith thezoningplanforLalang-garramȀCamdenSoundMarineParkandprovidelong-term secureprotectionforanimportantnature-basedtourismasset.

DugongBaySanctuaryZone

AlthoughtheproposedGanbadba(TalbotBay)SanctuaryZoneprovidessomelevelof protectiontothevaluesofGanbadba(TalbotBay)(e.g.turtlereef),itdoesn’tadequately protecttherangeofhabitatsfoundinthebayincludingjindim(mangroves),galaw (saltmarshes)andmudflats.Jindim(mangroves)andgalaw(saltmarshes)areidentified ashigh-priorityvalues(p.20)andshouldbeprotectedinthisregionbyincluding DugongBayasƒstand-alonesanctuaryzone.Thissanctuaryzoneshouldbedesignedto complementtheboundariesofOomedayNationalPark,whileleavingareassuchas CycloneCreekavailableforrecreationalfishing.

ShoalBaySanctuaryZone

ShoalBaycontainssomeofthemostimportanthabitatsforcoastaldolphinsandisone ofthreelocationsintheproposedmarineparkthatcontainsculturallyimportant freshwaterplaces.Noneofthesearecurrentlyprotectedintheproposedsanctuary zones.WerecommendedƒmarinesanctuaryzonebeestablishedovertheShoalBay estuary.



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Laddinyoon/SecureBaySanctuaryZone

Laddinyoom(SecureBay)wasfirstproposedforprotectionin1994bytheMarine ParksandReservesSelectionWorkingGroupwhonotedtheextensive,unusualand remarkablejindim(mangrove)ecosystemsandveryhighscenicvalues13ǤThemangrove communityofLaddinyoom(SecureBay)isthemostextensivewithinthemarineparks andisthesecondmostextensiveintheKimberleybioregion(behindthemangrove ecosystemsoftheStGeorgesBasinandPrinceRegentRiver).Thejindim(mangrove) ecosystemsofLaddinyoom(SecureBay)warrantprotectionundertheecological importanceprincipleoftheappendixonzoningdesignprinciples(p.72)particularly giventhelackofprotectionforthejindim(mangrove)ecosystemsofthePrinceRegent River/StGeorgeBasinintheLalang-garram/CamdenSoundMarinePark.

Recommendation3:Large–scaledredginganddredgespoildumpingshouldnot beallowedinthemarinepark.

Asoutlinedinthedraftplan,dredginganddredgespoildumpingwill,rightly,notbe allowedinsanctuaryzones.However,thisdisturbancewillbe“assessed”inthetwo “recreationandconservation”specialpurposezonesandallgeneralusezones(p.37). Weunderstandthatverysmallscaledredgingmayneedtobeoccurinthedaytoday maintenanceofthemarinepark(forexample,toaccessensureboatrampsare operational).However,largescaledredginganddredgespoildumpingisincompatible tomanyofthevaluesoutlinedintheplanandinfactrepresentsƒsignificantriskto manyofthem.Theplanneedstoexplicitlystatethatlarge-scalescaledredging activitiesanddredgespoildumpingwillnotoccurwithintheentiretyofthe marinepark.ThishasoccurredinotherAustraliantropicalmarinesystems14.

Itiswidelyacceptedthatlarge-scaledredginganddredgespoildumpingsignificantly influencesmarineenvironments,especiallyinwaterswherethereissignificanttidal movementsuchasthemarineenvironmentaroundHorizontalFalls.Entrainment, habitatdegradation,noise,contaminantremobilization,suspendedsediments,and sedimentationcanaffectbenthic,epibenthic,andinfaunalcommunities,whichcanin turnimpactuponmanymarinespeciesutilisingtheseenvironmentsincludingmarine mammals15ǤItcanalsobeexpectedthatevenrelativelysmalldredgingactivitywill causesignificantdredgeplumesgiventhetidalmovementandgeomorphologyofthe bay.Itcanalsobeexpectedthatlargescaledredgingoperationswillcausephysical

13DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement(CALM).1994.representativemarinereserve systemforWesternAustraliaǤReportofthemarineparksandreservesselectionworkinggroup. DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,PerthWesternAustralia.  14CommonwealthofAustralia.2015.GreatBarrierReefMarineParkRegulations1983ȂBanoncapital dredgematerialdisposal.

15Todd,V.L.G.,Todd,I.B.,Gardiner,J.C.,Morrin,E.C.N.,MacPherson,N.A.,DiMarzio,N.A.,andThomsen, F.2015.reviewofimpactsofmarinedredgingactivitiesonmarinemammals.ICESJournalofMarine Science72ǣ328–340.

9 removaland/orburialofbenthicecosystemsandeffectsofincreasedturbidityand sedimentationwhichcanimpactsignificantlyonimportanthabitatsincludingseagrass beds16andcoralreefs.Theinternationallysignificantcoralreefsystemsinthe KimberleyRegionarealreadyatriskfromcoralbleaching17ǤAdditionalstressesthat arisefromdredginganddredgespoildumpingonlyheightensthisrisk.



Recommendation4:Specifythatseismictestingwillnotbeallowedinthemarine park.

Noisefromƒsingleseismicairgunsurvey,usedtoexploreforoilandgasdeposits,can impactverylargespatialscales(over300,000km2),raisingbackgroundnoiselevels 100fold18ǤSeismictestingcanthereforehavesignificantimpactsonmarinespecies, especiallyinshallowenvironments,asitdisturbstheseafloorcommunities,fish19,20,21 andlarvaepopulations22ǡandinfluencesthecapacityformanymarinespeciestobreed andcommunicate.

Seismictestingisparticularlyproblematicforcetaceanspecies23,24ǤConcernarises becausecetaceansrelyonsoundtosensetheirenvironment.Seismictestingcandisrupt behaviour(e.g.,feeding,breeding,resting,migration),maskimportantsounds,cause

16Erftemeijer,P.L.A.&R.R.RobinLewis.2006.Environmentalimpactsofdredgingonseagrasses: Review.MarinePollutionBulletin52(12):1553-1572.  17 https://theconversation.com/western-australias-coral-reefs-are-in-trouble-we-mustnt-ignore-them-53111

18Weilgart,L.2013.reviewoftheimpactofSeismictestingonmarinelife.ExpertWorkshopon UnderwaterNoiseanditsImpactsonMarineandCoastalBiodiversity,25-27February,2014,London,UK.  19Slotte,A.,Hansen,K.,Dalen,J.,ƬE.Ona.2004.Acousticmappingofpelagicfishdistributionand abundanceinrelationtoƒseismicshootingareaofftheNorwegianwestcoast.FisheriesResearch67ǣ 143–150.  20Engås,A.,Løkkeborg,S.,Ona,E.,andSoldal,A.V.1996.Effectsofseismicshootingonlocalabundance andcatchratesofcod(Gadusmorhua)andhaddock(Melanogrammusaeglefinus).CanadianJournalof FisheriesandAquaticSciences53ǣ2238-2249.  21Skalski,J.R.,Pearson,W.H.,andMalme,C.I.1992.Effectsofsoundsfromƒgeophysicalsurveydeviceon catch-per-unit-effortinƒhook-and-linefisheryforrockfish(Sebastesssp.).CanadianJournalofFisheries andAquaticSciences49ǣ1357-136  22deSoto,N.A.,Delorme,N.Atkins,J.Howard,S.Williams,J.ƬJohnson,M.2013.Anthropogenicnoise causesbodymalformationsanddelaysdevelopmentinmarinelarvae.Scientificreports3:1-5.  23GordonJ.,GillespieD.,PotterJ.,FrantzisA.,SimmondsM.P.,SwiftR.,ƬD.Thompson.2004.reviewof theeffectsofseismicsurveysonmarinemammalsǤMar.Tech.Soc.J.37ǣ16–34Ǥ  24Nowacek,D.P.ƬP.L.Tyack.2008.Assessingeffectsofanthroprogenicnoiseonthebehaviourofmarine mammals.Bioacoustics17:1-3,338-341. 

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temporaryorpermanenthearingloss,andreducepreyavailability25ǤAsacknowledged inthedraftplan,themarineenvironmentaroundHorizontalFallsisanimportant breedinggroundforHumpbackWhales.Themarineenvironmentsalsocontain significantpopulationsofinshoredolphins,anditalsoprovideshabitatforseveralother marinemammalspecies(e.g.,bottlenoseddolphin,short-finnedpilotwhale,and dugong)likelytobeadverselyimpactedbyseismictesting.

Wethereforerecommendthattheplanexplicitlystatesthatnoseismictestingwillbe allowedinthemarinepark.



Recommendation5:Endgillnetfishinginthemarinepark.

TheWesternAustralianGovernmentandYawuruTraditionalOwnersaretobe congratulatedǦtherecentremovalofthecommercialgillnetfisheryinRoebuckBayhas resonatedpositivelywiththelocalcommunityandvisitorsalike.commonlyheard statementaroundtherecreationalfishingcommunityinBroomeis“wehaven’tseen thisnumberoffishforyears”andthevastmajorityofpeopleacknowledgethisisdueto theremovalofcommercialgillnetsfromthebaywiththeextinguishmentoffishing licences.

Werecommendƒsimilarapproachbetakentoallcoastalenvironmentsinthe Kimberley,includingHorizontalFalls.keyperformanceindicatorsis“nolossofturtles, dugong,sawfish,dolphinsandestuarinecrocodilesasƒresultofhumanactivitiesinthe marinepark”(p.44),whichisimpossibletoadheretoowhilegillnetfishingtakesplace. Irrespectiveof“world’sbestpractice”beingutilised,itisnotpossibletoensurethere willbeno“by-catch”ofmarinemammals,turtles,orcrocodileswhilstemployinggillnet fishing.Tothecontrary,inwaterstothenorthofHorizontalFallsMarinePark,therehas beenincidenceofdeadcrocodilesthathavedrownedingillnetswhichwereobserved andphotographedbyhorrifiedtouristsfromanexpeditionship(Plate2).

25Moore,S.,Reeves,R.R.,Southall,B.L.,Ragen,T.J.,Suydam,R.S.ƬC.W.Clark.2010.NewFrameworkfor AssessingtheEffectsofAnthropogenicSoundonMarineMammalsinƒRapidlyChangingArctic. BioScience62(3):289-295.

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Plate2.CrocodilethathasperishedduetodrowninginƒgillnetinthenorthKimberley. PhotographerȂAngelaSaurine



InWWF’sanalysis,endinggillnetfishingintheKimberleywouldcauseƒminimal impactonlocalandtheStateeconomy.TheCentreforConservationGeography estimatesthatthecompleteremovalofcommercialfishingfromthemarineparks wouldsignificantlyimpactjustonelicenseholderintheKimberleyBarramundiand GillnetFishery,withƒmaximumimpactoflessthan$0.3millionperannum.



Recommendation6:Donotallowship-loadingandotherminingrelated infrastructureinsanctuaryzonesandspecialpurpose(recreationand conservation)zones

WenoteintheGanbadbaSanctuaryZoneandtheTraverseIslandSpecialPurposeZone (recreationandconservation),thereisspecificmentionoftheship-loadingfacilitiesand othermining-relatedinfrastructureasƒpermissibleactivity(p.37).Further,theplan statesthatshouldmininginfrastructurebeapproved,considerationmaybegivento amendboundariesofƒzone(p.37).Thisiscompletelyunacceptableasallowingforthis typeofactivityin“sanctuaryzones”or“specialpurposezones(recreationand

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conservation)”defeatsthepurposeofthezoneswhicharedesignedtoprotectnatural andculturalvaluesfromdisturbancesincludingmining.Werecommendthatthedraft plancomplywithinternationalstandardsandensureshiploadingandothermining relatedinfrastructurenotoccurinsanctuaryzonesorspecialpurposezones.



Recommendation7:Ensuresustainableeconomiessuchastourismare adequatelysupportedandtheirvaluerecognisedintheplan.

Lastyear,theKimberleyregionwasvotedasthetoptraveldestinationinAustraliaby theAustralianTravelermagazine26ǤEveryyear,thousandsoftouristsvisitthe HorizontalFallsregionviaboatorseaplane,bringinginmillionsofdollarstothelocal andstateeconomy(asoutlinedonpage11ofthedraftplan).Weagreethe establishmentoftheLalang-garrammarineparksisƒkeyinitiativethatwillsupportthe continueddevelopmentofnatureandculture-basedtourism(p.11).Theexpedition cruisetourismindustry,inparticular,isstronglydependentonthepristinenatural qualitiesofthearea.Wealsonotethatactivitiessuchasthepetroleum(including seismictesting)andmineralsector(e.g.,dredgingfornewports)havethepotentialto haveƒsignificantnegativeeffectonthetourismproductandvisitorexperience27ǡ reinforcingtheneedtobantheseactivitiesintheproposedmarineparks.

Wefeelthatalthoughtheimportanceoftourismtoregionaleconomieshasbeen broadlyoutlinedintheplan,thevalueofthetourismsectorintheproposedmarine parkshasnotbeencalculated,norhasthevaluethenaturalandculturalvaluesbringto broaderstateeconomy(e.g.,ensuringwhalebreedinggroundsareprotectedinthe KimberleyenableswhaletourismbusinesstooperateallthewayalongtheWestern Australiancoast).Theseassessmentsneedtobemadetooutlinethetruevaluethatƒ worldclassmarineparkbringstotheWesternAustralianeconomy.

 ThankyouforconsideringWWF’ssubmissiononthisdraftmanagementplan. PleasedonothesitatetocontactWWFforclarificationonanyoftheissuesraised inthissubmission. 

Contact:DrAlexanderWatson PostalAddress:POBox1980,Broome,WA6725. Email:[email protected]

26http://www.australiantraveller.com/australia/australias-best-travel-destinations/ 27Scherrer,P.,Smith,A.andR.Dowling.2008.TourismandtheKimberleyCoastWaterwaysǤSustainable TourismCRC.ISBN:9781920965747.

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