Marine parks and reserves planning process

Department of Environment and Conservation's role

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has the primary responsibility for managing WA's marine conservation reserves, and to prepare management plans for consideration by the Marine Parks and Reserve Authority (MPRA).

Marine Parks and Reserves Authority's role

The Marine Parks and Reserves Authority (MPRA) is an independent authority, in which marine conservation reserves are vested (i.e. legally entrusted to), on behalf of all Western Australians. The Authority's functions include the provision of advice to the Minister for Environment in relation to marine conservation reserve proposals, and to submit management plans for areas that are vested in the Authority. In planning proposed marine conservation reserves the Authority provides broad policy direction and provides advice as required.

Other government agencies role

Local Government, and a number of State Government agencies, will have responsibilities and/or an interest in the marine conservation reserve proposal. The Department of Fisheries, in particular, has responsibility for managing fish stocks and fisheries throughout State waters and has an important role within marine parks and reserves. Other Government agencies including Department of Transport, Department of Indigenous Affairs, the Commonwealth and local government authorities continue to exercise their statutory functions in marine parks. In this way the process takes an integrated management approach to ensure that the ecological and social values will be managed effectively and efficiently when the reserve is established.