What are marine conservation reserves?

Marine conservation reserve is the term used in Western Australia to describe areas of the marine and estuarine environment of the State that have been legally established to help conserve our biodiversity. Other names for marine conservation reserves include marine reserves or marine protected areas.

In some parts of the world, marine conservation reserves are areas where no fishing or collecting is permitted (i.e. ‘no take’ areas or marine sanctuaries). These reserves often cover relatively small areas. In other parts of the world governments have adopted a multiple-use approach that allows for a variety of uses, including fishing and tourism, within reserves. Multiple-use reserves usually cover larger areas and usually include sanctuary zones within their boundaries.

Most existing marine conservation reserves in Western Australia are multiple-use and cater for a wide range of human activities. These reserves reflect a balanced approach by conserving representative ecosystems and habitats, and providing a management framework to ensure that recreation and commercial uses are managed in an equitable, integrated and sustainable manner.

Zoning is an important part of the management framework in multiple-use marine reserves. The partial or total restriction of fishing and other extractive activities in some zones is a key strategy for the conservation of marine flora and fauna. These zones also facilitate research and monitoring activities. Zoning also allows potentially conflicting activities to be separated and provides for specific activities such as aquaculture, nature-based tourism and scientific study.

There are three marine reserve categories in Western Australia:

• Marine nature reserves, which are created for conservation and scientific research. Low-impact tourism may be permitted, but no recreational or commercial fishing, aquaculture, pearling, petroleum drilling or production is allowed in these areas.
• Marine parks, which are created to protect natural features and aesthetic values while allowing recreation and commercial uses that do not compromise conservation values. Marine parks have four management zone options – sanctuary, recreation, general use and special purpose.
• Marine management areas, which are created to provide a formal integrated management framework over areas that have high conservation value and intensive multiple use.