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MEMA # 42 summary minutes

Summary meeting minutes of the Marine Estate Management Authority.

Meeting date: 9 December 2021

Attendance

Authority members or their nominees in attendance were:

  • Chair, Marine Estate Management Authority (Dr Russell Reichelt AO FTSE)
  • Chair, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel (Ms Anthea Tinney PSM)
  • Deputy Secretary, Biodiversity, Conservation and Science, Department Planning, Industry and Environment
  • Deputy Director General, Department of Primary Industries Fisheries
  • Executive Director, State Policy and Strategic Advice, Department Planning, Industry and Environment – Planning and Assessment
  • Director, Maritime and Transport Safety Strategy, Transport for NSW

The Authority considered a range of matters at the meeting including those summarised below.

Authority annual reporting

The Authority released its two annual reports in December:

The last two financial years have been the most turbulent and challenging period for the Authority since its establishment in 2014. NSW continued to experience the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic including lockdowns and other restrictions. COVID-19 impacted on almost all Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy) initiatives, particularly projects involving on-ground works, field-based research, education and training, stakeholder engagement, and social research. The NSW floods in March 2021 also delayed several projects mainly in the Hunter-Newcastle region where field-based research and on-ground works were impacted. Despite these challenges intended outcomes were achieved and good progress towards reducing threats to the marine estate was made.

This year the Authority reports on year three of the ten-year Strategy, with $28.3 million funding invested in 2020-2021 to deliver on outcomes. It was an ambitious program of works that spanned many government agencies and partners to implement over 100 projects throughout the State.  Detailed progress on the delivery of Strategy for the year is reported in the Strategy Implementation Annual Report 2020-2021.

The Authority also continued to progress marine park management planning for the NSW mainland marine park network, a significant piece of work undertaken in consultation with key stakeholders, marine park advisory committees and relevant agencies.

The Authority’s achievements and deliverables for all programs are reported in the Authority’s Annual Report 2020-2021, now published on the marine estate website.

Marine park management planning

The NSW Government announced on 1 November the release the draft Management Plan for the NSW Mainland Marine Park Network (2021-2031), which has been developed to guide the management of the state’s five existing mainland marine parks. The Plan has been developed with comprehensive feedback provided by the five mainland marine park advisory committees, ten government agencies and the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.

The community is invited to have its say on the management of the state’s five mainland marine parks, which provide a range of biodiversity conservation, cultural, commercial and recreational benefits. The five mainland marine parks in NSW include Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay and Batemans marine parks. A management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park will be developed separately.

The draft plan does not include any specific proposals around changes to marine park rules or zones. The detail of any proposed changes to rules or zones will be developed in stage 2 after the draft plan is finalised and will be subject to further community consultation.

For more information and to complete the survey visit www.marine.nsw.gov.au/yoursay. The plan will be open for consultation until 31 January 2022.

Evidence-based approach to managing marine parks

Research is an important part of marine park management. The draft Management Plan for the NSW Mainland Marine Park Network contains specific research actions that aim to improve how marine parks are managed and evaluated, opportunities for citizen science, and how research and evidence is communicated to the community into the future.

The Authority has released two independent technical papers and a summary paper regarding the science undertaken to inform NSW marine protected areas since the marine park audit in 2012.

The following reports can be found on the marine estate website:

Marine Estate Management Strategy implementation

The Authority noted the progress on implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy -2018-2028 (Strategy) and endorsed the trimester report for the period ending 31 October 2021. Progress and risk status were noted on over 100+ projects being delivered across the marine estate. Significant achievements for the reporting period are outlined in the Strategy Snapshot – year 4, trimester 1 report.

Significant achievements this reporting period include the new southern right whale monitoring program; development of the trawl whiting and lobster harvest strategies for comment by stakeholders; completion of the Strategy’s first evaluation (for work undertaken in 2018 – 2020); and removal of Cooke’s Weir on the Richmond River to significantly improve fish passage to 250 km of coastal fish habitat.

Details on the full set of projects underway are outlined in the Strategy Implementation Plan.

The Authority discussed options to resource the continued delivery of Strategy beyond current funding commitments ending June 2022.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

Work on the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program (MIMP) continues. The MIMP monitors condition and trend of environmental assets and community benefits, guides data collection to assess management effectiveness and contributes to filling key knowledge gaps.

In addition to environmental condition monitoring programs, consultants are undertaking social surveys to understand community wellbeing associated with the NSW marine estate. Surveys have targeted coastal residents, visitors, coastal Aboriginal communities and teenagers.

Work continues on the development of report cards and filling key knowledge gaps, in cooperation with our partners.

Blue carbon priorities in NSW

The Authority noted the completion of the project: A Coastal Wetland Restoration First Pass Prioritisation for Blue Carbon and Co-benefits in NSW funded by the NSW Government under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The outputs from the project will inform the development of estuary specific marine vegetation strategies and prioritisation and undertaking of on ground coastal wetland rehabilitation projects that could involve the restoration of natural hydrology.

The report, funded by the Marine Estate Management Strategy, was completed by DPI Fisheries in partnership the University of Wollongong. The report and its findings will be published on the marine estate website shortly.

Fish friendly breakwater project

The Authority noted the completion of the project on Fish Friendly Breakwater Maintenance, funded by the NSW Government under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The project identified opportunities for managers to improve fish habitat, reduce impacts to the marine environment and enhance community benefits associated with breakwalls in our estuaries.

Estuary training infrastructure such as breakwaters can contribute to social, cultural and economic values, by facilitating greater access to nearshore and marine environments.

The project was undertaken by DPI Fisheries in partnership with Southern Cross University and GHD. The reports will be published on the marine estate website shortly.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for March 2022.