Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 76
Sub Outcome:	1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans
Division/Agency:	Marine Division
Topic:	Structural Adjustment Package
Hansard Page ECITA:	46

Senator McLucas asked:
Could you provide the committee with a copy of the explanation you gave to Ecofish?

Answer/s:
The following words were provided to Ecofish to explain the Revised Post Licence Buy Out Rezoning Impact Data Sheet, which may help fishers prepare applications for Full Business Restructuring Assistance under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package. 

“The focus of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package has shifted to the provision of business restructuring assistance following the completion of the commercial fishing licence buyout earlier this year.

Under the guidelines for Full Business Restructuring Assistance (FBRA), applicants need to demonstrate the impacts that the rezoning is having on their business. For fishing businesses this needs to take account of the effort removed from the industry by the licence buyout. This is necessary because the buyout has removed effort in many areas that were not closed under the rezoning and this has reduced the overall impact of the rezoning for many fishing businesses.

Recognising that it may be difficult for some fishing businesses to estimate the remaining impact of the rezoning, the Department of the Environment and Heritage has developed a simple tool to help. Details were discussed at the recent port meetings.

Fishers are able to obtain A Post Licence Buyout Impact Data Sheet for each licence they hold to help them quantify how the rezoning has impacted on their business. Data sheets are available upon request from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries by faxing 07 3227 8788, or by ringing 07 3227 8789.

The data sheet identifies the applicant’s individual Post Licence Buy Out Impact Percentage, which is an estimate of how much the applicant’s catch is expected to decrease due to the rezoning, after the licence buyout has been taken into account. 

The data sheet is not claimed to be the “correct” estimate of any licence’s impact. It is a formula‑based estimate designed to help applicants demonstrate the impacts of the rezoning. There is no obligation for applicants to use the data sheet in demonstrating their case, if they feel that it underestimates the direct impacts of the rezoning that they are experiencing. The Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority will consider any other information that applicants wish to present to demonstrate the impacts that the rezoning has had on their operation.

Applicants who have obtained their individual data sheet may wish to use the ‘How to Guide’ for Full Business Restructure Assistance Applications, which was developed by the Queensland Seafood Industry Association. This explains how applicants can use their datasheet in developing their FBRA budgets.”

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 77
Sub Outcome:	1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans
Division/Agency:	Marine Division
Topic:	New marine species
Hansard Page ECITA:	132

Senator Webber asked:
Can you get me some information on that? (Joint cruise in the Arafura Sea – discovering new marine species)

Answer/s: 
Arafura Sea biodiversity research voyage – April – May 2005 
On 28 April 2005 the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell announced the commencement of the third and final voyage of the Northern Australian Marine Science Survey 2005. This third voyage, now completed, represents the first detailed ecological study of the seafloor or ‘benthic’ biodiversity of the Arafura Sea. The voyage recovered a large number of species, many of which are believed to be new to science.
The voyage has been a multi-purpose joint exercise involving the Department of the Environment and Heritage (National Oceans Office), Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and the Australian Museum and used the Marine National Research Facility, the RV Southern Surveyor. The biological side of the voyage was managed by Dr George Wilson of the Australian Museum together with Dr Karen Gowlett-Holmes of CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart. 
The Arafura Sea is an important seaway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans that influences climate, oceanography and biological features of both oceans. Despite this importance, the benthic biodiversity of the region has received little study, other than for fisheries research by vessels from Australia and other nations. 
The goals of the voyage were to explore areas of the ocean floor in the Arafura Sea for natural hydrocarbon seeps, in an assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of the Arafura Sea, and to study the region’s benthic biodiversity. The plan for the voyage including its location is available on the Internet at: http://www.marine.csiro.au/nationalfacility/voyagedocs/2005/Plan_SS05-2005.pdf. 
The voyage collected seismic and oceanic data, mapped the seafloor and collected geological and biological samples over various habitats. Valuable geological and physical information was collected and rich variety of biological specimens was collected that will greatly increase our knowledge of the benthic ecology of the Arafura Sea. 
Over 250 species (greater than 2 cm in length) were collected, photographed and for these preliminary identifications made on board the ship. A wide variety of species were found, including for example:
•	sponges, hydroids, corals, corals, sea fans and sea anemones;
•	a variety of worms including ribbon and segmented worms;
•	cockles, whelks and tusk shells and auger shells; 
•	sea stars, brittle stars feather stars and sea urchins;
•	isopods, shrimps, prawns, crabs; and 
•	a few species of fish and one species of eel. 
In addition, a very large number of organisms (smaller than 2 cm) were collected from sediments and these will be sorted and documented during 2005‑06. 
The sea floor varied from hard rocky areas dominated by filter-feeding organisms attached to the substrate, to mud or ooze sediments with organisms living within and on the sediments. 
Exploring a new area is bound to provide surprises for biologists. One fascinating example of this was a brittle star or ‘ophiuroid’ that played dead when it was taken to the lab for photography, but after settling under the camera, a touch of its arm caused it to jump quickly away. To the surprise of scientists, it also emitted bright blue-green flashes ‘bioluminescent’ from the underside of its arms just before it jumped. An image of this brittle star has been provided to Senator Webber and is available from the table office.
The work on board the vessel is just the beginning of the task to analyse and report on how the study adds to our knowledge of the region’s biodiversity. Over the next year the identification of the species both large and small will be undertaken, including conclusively stating which species are new to science. This will be done as a collaboration of marine taxonomists in the Australian museums. 
This voyage has been an important step in gaining a richer understanding of benthic biodiversity of the region. Preliminary findings together with research in nearby regions suggest that the Arafura Sea region may have hundreds of unrecorded species from many different groups of organisms. Further analysis of results will add to our understanding of the biodiversity of the Arafura Sea and how it relates to other marine ecosystems around Australia. 

Attachment

Figure 1. Image of brittle star 'ophiuroid' with bioluminescent ability from Arafura Sea biodiversity research voyage – April to May 2005. Photograph Karen Gowlett-Holmes.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 78
Sub Outcome:	1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans
Division/Agency:	Marine Division
Topic:	National Oceans Office
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
What is the impact of the abolition of the NOO on the staff numbers, budget and output on oceans policy?

Answer/s:
The National Oceans Office (NOO) was not abolished. The NOO was absorbed into the Department of the Environment and Heritage with effect from 27 October 2004. The staff, appropriation revenue and assets were formally transferred to the Department of the Environment and Heritage under the relevant provisions of the Public Service Act (1999) and the Financial Management and Accountability Act (1997).

There was no impact on the level of staffing, budget or work on implementing Oceans Policy as a result of the machinery of government changes. This work is now undertaken within the Marine Division.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 79
Sub Outcome:	1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans
Division/Agency:	Marine Division
Topic:	National Oceans Office
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
What are the reporting arrangements for the NOO?  Which Minister?

Answer:
The National Oceans Office reports to the head of the Marine Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage is responsible for the Department and the National Oceans Office.