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There are several stages in planning a proposed marine conservation reserve. Below is a step by step guide to the approach commonly used in Western Australia. However, with each new reserve or management plan review there may be variations. The current reserve proposals and review processes follow this format as a general rule however, where there are modifications information is provided in the individual reserve sections.
Key steps
- Background information on the area's ecological (eg. marine communities and wildlife) and social values (eg. uses of the area) is gathered to support the planning of the proposed marine conservation reserve.
- Agreement is sought by the Minister for the Environment from the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development to formally commence the planning process for the candidate marine conservation reserve.
- A community-based advisory committee or other participation mechanism such as a focus group is established, to facilitate community involvement in the reserve proposal.
- A draft indicative management plan (IMP) is developed in consultation with the advisory committee or focus group and with extensive community input. Additional consultation on specific issues of concern is also undertaken with sector reference groups and other stakeholders.
- The Marine Parks and Reserves Authority (MPRA) reviews the draft IMP and provides advice to the Minister for the Environment on the reserve proposal.
- The Minister for the Environment seeks the approval of the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development to release the IMP for the required three month public submission period.
- The IMP is released for formal public comment for three months, together with a notice in newspapers and the Government Gazette notifying the community of the proposal to create a marine conservation reserve.
- The MPRA considers the public submissions and advises the Minister for the Environment on recommended changes to the IMP.
- The Minister for the Environment considers the recommendations from the MPRA, and modifies the IMP if appropriate.
- The Minister for the Environment seeks concurrence from the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development to proceed with gazetting the marine conservation reserve in accordance with the revised management plan.
- Cabinet undertakes final consideration of the marine conservation reserve proposal including resources required to implement the management plan.
- The marine conservation reserve is gazetted (eg legally established).
- The final management plan for the new marine conservation reserve is released and the zoning scheme, if applicable, is then legally gazetted .
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