Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  21
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic:	Zoning consultation and decision making process
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
I recognise the extensive consultation process which took place to provide industry groups and interested parties with input into the GBR zoning. I do however have general concerns about how the final decisions were reached and the perceived lack of consideration and forethought to the impacts to the commercial and recreational fishing industries and their associated communities.
I am of the understanding that GBRMPA has placed restrictions on the commercial mud crabbing industry ie. four apparatus per license in the yellow zones, and minimal restriction of apparatus for recreational fishers.

I am also of the understanding that the DEH EPBC Act has supported the mud crabbing industry as sustainable.

I would like to know what decision making process was followed by GBRMPA to determine what is considered a sustainable number of apparatus? What was the scientific evidence used to support the final decision? How was the mud crabbing industry consultation with GBRMPA considered in this process?

Answer:
The information, guiding principles and process for decision making used in the GBRMP rezoning are described in the Report on Zoning – available on the GBRMPA website. The use of four apparatus per person to take crabs in yellow zones applies to both commercial and recreational fishing. This provision was in place in previous Zoning Plans and was maintained on the basis that it met the zone objective of “limited extractive use”. Consultation with the commercial crabbing industry provided detailed advice as to their needs and allowed zones to be placed so as to minimise impact, noting that the Marine Park’s western boundary is at low water, thus excluding much of the area used by the mud crab fishery.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  22
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic:	Scientific evidence for zoning decisions
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
I have concerns that rezoning in some instances, has occurred to favour green political preferences without sufficient scientific evidence to support the decision. Can GBRMPA produce the scientific evidence to support their decision for every zone.

Answer:
The final zoning for the Marine Park involved consideration of all submissions received during both phases of Community Participation, together with all other available information about the known uses and values for the Marine Park, including ecological, social, cultural and economic information.

The information (including scientific information), guiding principles and process used in the GBRMP rezoning are described in the Report on Zoning – available on the GBRMPA website.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  23
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic:	Bowling Green Bay
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
I am particularly interested in the Bowling Green Bay decision to protect the mammals in the bay by reducing the mud crabbing licenses. 
What process did GBRMPA follow to ascertain sufficient scientific evidence to warrant a green zone for conservation purposes, in areas known to be important to commercial fishing? 

Answer:

The decision on zoning for Bowling Green Bay did not involve any reduction in mud crab licences. 

In the final Zoning Plan, Bowling Green Bay Green Zone was reduced considerably in size in recognition of the fishing that occurs there. It still includes part of an important coastal bioregion and includes a significant part of the special and unique area of Bowling Green Bay. The green zone includes, for example, seagrass beds important as dugong and turtle foraging habitat, populations of the inshore Indo‑pacific humpback and Irrawaddy dolphins, and fish nursery areas, and a primary Grunter fish spawning aggregation site. The zone complements the adjacent Bowling Green Bay National Park, which includes one of the only two Ramsar-listed internationally significant wetlands in the World Heritage Area. The green zone also provides added protection to the Bowling Green Bay Dugong Protection Area and the Queensland Government declared Bowling Green Bay Fish Habitat Area. Bowling Green Bay is one of the few coastal areas in the GBRMP that is recognized internationally for its very high conservation value, and the partial green zoning recognizes this. 

The Green Zone protects a representative area of an important coastal bioregion, but was designed to ensure it did not extend further to the north, south or west to minimise the potential impact on the trawl, net and crab fisheries. The primary objective of green zones is to protect the natural integrity of the ecosystem, generally free from extractive activities. The removal of mud crabs, which are omnivorous scavengers and play a major role in recycling nutrients, affects the natural integrity of ecosystems. The GBRMPA did not reduce the number of mud crab licences. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries manage licensing arrangements for the mud crab fishery and there has not been any reduction in the number of licences. Holders of these licences are able to fish in all open areas along the entire east coast.

Generic information, guiding principles and process for the decision-making for the GBRMP rezoning are described in the Report on Zoning – available on the GBRMPA website.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  24
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic:	Consultation
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
I understand that extensive consultation was undertaken with a broad range of industry groups related to the GBR. I also understand that such groups were forthcoming in providing important local information on areas of significance to both conservation and fishing. How did GBRMPA consider this information and try to limit impacts which are now evident in communities?

Answer:
The Report on Zoning available on the GBRMPA website describes in detail how local information (as well as other information) was used to balance conservation objectives with the concerns and issues raised by all stakeholder groups, including fishermen. Consequently, the final zoning was the result of a weighing up of all uses (often conflicting) and values of the area, whilst maintaining the planning principles. 

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  25
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic:	Code of Conduct
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
(a).	Under the public service code conduct I am of the understanding that the public can not be knowingly deceived. Is GBRMPA aware of this code of conduct?

(b).	Did GBRMPA staff knowingly deceive the public by collecting information on important commercial fishing areas and use this information to identify the green zones? Who within GBRMPA would be held accountable for this action if it were the case? 

Answer:
(a).	Yes.

(b).	No.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  26
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic: 	Revision of RAP boundaries	
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice
Senator  Joyce asked:
After closing 33% of commercial and recreational fishing via green zones, the GBRMPA is now proposing to close the only safe anchorage in the Lady Elliot area. Is the GBRMPA therefore proposing their judgment in delivering RAP was flawed, and there is now a need to revise the RAP boundaries and their intended use?
Answer/s:
The GBRMPA is not, and never proposed, closing the anchorage at Lady Elliot Island. 

Lady Elliot Island is the southern most reef of the Great Barrier Reef. A resort has been established on the island since the 1960s. The resort places a very high emphasis on reef based education and ecotourism activities including diving. 

Lady Elliot Island is also an anchorage of importance to the local commercial fishing fleet with approximately eight vessels relying on it on a regular basis. The anchorage is also used by other small vessels traveling through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

The GBRMPA has been meeting with representatives of the commercial fishing industry and the resort to find a solution to a long running concern about anchoring practices that are damaging coral at the island’s prime dive site. The issue only arises when care is not taken while dropping anchors, with the majority of vessels anchoring in sand or rubble areas and not causing damage. Notwithstanding the infrequent occurrence of inappropriate anchoring practices, the damage that occurs is substantial and takes years to recover. 

In a meeting with commercial fishermen and the resort management in February it was agreed that GBRMPA would mark the live coral areas and that fishermen and the resort would be given the opportunity to trial the system over time, with a view to moving the markers if necessary to achieve a workable solution. Marking of coral areas in high use anchorages is a commonly adopted and well regarded management strategy very successfully used in areas such as the Whitsunday Islands since the 1990s. This management action has no relationship to rezoning.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  29
Sub Outcome:	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef
Division/Agency:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Topic: 	Displaced commercial fishermen
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Joyce asked:
I am also of the understanding that the yellow zones along coastal areas are resulting in commercial fishing encroaching on recreational fishing areas up streams. How does GBRMPA intend to manage the displaced commercial fishermen and the impacts to other users?

Answer:
In the new Zoning Plan, yellow zones constitute about 1.5% of the area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

Zoning along the coastal area is the responsibility of the Queensland Government.

Management of use in rivers and streams is the responsibility of the Queensland Government.