MEMA 39 summary minutes

Published 21 October 2021

March 2021

Authority members or their nominees in attendance were:

Chair, Marine Estate Management Authority (Chair, Dr Russell Reichelt)
Chair, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel
Deputy Secretary, Biodiversity, Conservation and Science, Department Planning, Industry and Environment
Deputy Director General, Department of Primary Industries Fisheries
Executive Director, Centres for Road and Maritime Safety
Executive Director, State Policy and Strategic Advice, Department Planning, Industry and Environment – Planning and Assessment

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

Marine Estate Management Strategy

The Authority noted progress on implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy) and endorsed the quarterly report for the period ending 31 December 2020. Progress and risks were noted on over 100+ projects being delivered across the marine estate. Significant achievements for the October – December 2020 quarter are outlined in the Strategy Snapshot – year 3, quarter 2 report.

Excellent progress was achieved between October and December 2020 despite several challenges in implementation, including various COVID 19 restrictions.

Key achievements include:

(Initiative 1B) Fish friendly workshops for councils – Four fish friendly videos were published to assist local government to understand their obligations when working in waterways: Harming Marine Vegetation, Obstructing Fish Passage, An overview of the Fisheries Management Act, Permits and Orders and Dredging and Reclamation works.
(Initiative 4) Reviving Culture -The online Sea Country School Education program was launched during NAIDOC week. The program targets schools on the South Coast of NSW and supports primary school students to learn about Sea Country from traditional owners as well as using videos and classroom activities.
(Initiatives 5) Partnerships to protect marine wildlife – 16 research and partnership workshops have now been held with key universities, research bodies and non-government organisation conservation groups to discuss research priorities and opportunities for collaboration.
(Initiative 6) Fisheries Enhancement – the Tweed Offshore Artificial Reef installation is now complete. This is part of a network of artificial reefs across the State that enhance fishing opportunities, by creating additional habitat for local aquatic organisms and fish.
(Initiative 7) Mooring Strategy – The online private mooring map is now launched. The map provides a modernised and more streamlined service for boat owners to search and apply for a mooring.
(Initiative 9) Greater Sydney region compliance focusing on marine protected areas – Greater Metropolitan Mobile Squad Fisheries Officers conducted more than 880 inspections with an observed compliance rate of 85%. A total of 215 offences were reported by the officers in this quarter and the most common offences were possessing prohibited size fish, exceeding possession limits and failing to pay fishing fee.
Strategy education, communication and stakeholder liaison - The NSW Marine Estate Instagram channel was launched to regularly inform the community and stakeholders about the Strategy’s success, provide program updates and relevant information. Additionally, the December edition of the Strategy newsletter was delivered to over 1100 subscribers. Eleven news stories were released to inform internal stakeholders of Strategy projects and build support and collaboration.

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

Two key documents were considered and endorsed by the Authority, for public release.

Finalisation of the Domestic Waterfront Structure Strategy (Strategy - Initiative 2)

The Richmond River and Brunswick River Domestic Waterfront Structures-Land Owner’s Consent Strategies (DWSS) are a key deliverable under Initiative 2 of the Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy) and have been developed using the Strategy multi-agency collaboration framework. Outputs of the DWSS aim to address the key threats associated with domestic waterfront structures to the social, cultural, economic and environmental values of the marine estate. This includes threats relating to construction and use of domestic waterfront structures to key fish habitat, commercial fisheries, aquaculture, public access to waterways. The DWSS will also increase certainty on the assessment and approval process for domestic waterfront structures for all stakeholders.

Finalisation of the NSW Shellfish Restoration Guidelines (Strategy - Initiative 1B)

Shellfish reef restoration planning and implementation guidelines have been developed to provide advice to stakeholders on shellfish reef restoration assessment and approval pathways.

The Guidelines target a broad range of potential practitioners including non-government organisations, local government and local community groups, and describes the approval and legislative pathways required to deliver a successful shellfish reef restoration project in NSW.

More information on oyster reef restoration is available on the NSW marine estate website

More information on Strategy implementation and the range of initiatives and projects can be found on the marine estate website.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

Work on the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program (MIMP) continues. The first formal two-year program evaluation outlined in the MIMP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Framework) is now almost completed, in consultation with consultants. The Framework is available on the marine estate website.

Consultants have also been engaged to assist with research design and implementation of social surveys to inform community wellbeing monitoring associated with the NSW marine estate. Engagement with coastal residents, visitors, Aboriginal communities and marine estate agency staff is a major component of these surveys, due to be completed mid-2021.

Work continues on prioritising and filling key knowledge gaps, in cooperation with our partners.

Marine park management planning

A new approach to management planning for NSW marine parks continues in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Estate Management Act 2014. For the first time planning will identify the environmental, social, cultural and economic values to be managed in marine parks, identify the threats to those values and outline management objectives and actions to conserve the values and reduce the threats over a 10-year timeframe.

A preliminary draft management plan for the mainland marine park network has now been developed and further input is currently being sought from the five mainland marine park advisory committees, government agencies and the Knowledge Panel.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for June 2021.