âExpect the same thingâ: NSW marine park review stokes conservation fears
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The NSW government is preparing a ânetwork management planâ for marine parks stretching from Byron Bay to Batemans Bay, stoking fears from conservationists and recreational fishers about the possible outcomes.
The move, disclosed in a parliamentary hearing by Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, follows the recent resignation of a member of the Batemans Marine Park Advisory Committee over that regionâs weakened sanctuary protections. Montague Island, part of the Batemans zone, may also lose its international conservation rating.
Montague Island, part of the Batemans Bay Marine Park, one of the six special offshore zones in NSW.
Environmental scientists see flora, fauna and phenomena the rest of us rarely do. In this new series, we’ve invited them to share their unique photos from the field.
Two weeks ago, I found myself hitting the water on Norfolk Island, complete with a survey reel, slate and camera.
Norfolk Island is a small volcanic outcrop located between New Caledonia and New Zealand, 1,400 kilometres east of Australia’s Gold Coast. It’s surrounded by coral reefs, with a shallow lagoon on the south side that looks out on two smaller islands: Nepean and Phillip.
The island is picturesque, but like marine environments the world over, Norfolk Marine Park is subject to pressures from climate change, fishing pressure, habitat change and pollution.
Expect the same thing : NSW marine park review stokes conservation fears brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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More than a thousand disposable face masks have washed up on remote Lord Howe Island since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking fears for marine life and sea birds.
Early reports from Clean Up Australia Day a week ago also suggest face masks and other pandemic-related litter have emerged as a big problem on the mainland.
Marine rangers Caitlin Woods and Sallyann Gudge count face masks that have washed up on a Lord Howe Island beach.
Credit:Justin Gilligan
Lord Howe Island Marine Park manager Justin Gilligan said a community-wide effort had recovered 1112 face masks from the island’s beaches and rocky headlands in the second half of last year.
Coronavirus Australia: More than 1000 disposable face masks wash up on Lord Howe Island smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.