Three new marine sanctuary zones have been created on Rottnest Island, with two existing zones expanded to help protect the island's marine life, Tourism Minister Sheila McHale announced today.
Three new marine sanctuary zones have been created on Rottnest Island, with two existing zones expanded to help protect the island's marine life, Tourism Minister Sheila McHale announced today.
The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below
New protections come into force today to better protect Rottnest Island's spectacular marine environment.
Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said that under new legislation enacted from today, three new marine sanctuary zones had been created and two existing zones expanded.
Ms McHale said new zones had been created at Green Island, West End and Armstrong Bay and existing zones at Parker Point and Kingston Reef had been extended.
"It is now illegal for people to fish or take marine flora or fauna in all of the zones with the exception of West End where people can still troll for fish," she said.
"Fisheries officers and Rottnest rangers regularly patrol the area and people caught breaching the new rules face fines of up to $10,000.
"It is vitally important we enhance the protection of Rottnest's unique marine biodiversity.
"Rottnest is an extremely popular recreation and holiday destination and deserves to be properly protected."
The Minister said the sanctuary zones now covered about 16 per cent of the reserve's waters.
"The conservation of marine habitats has very high public support with more than
86 per cent of public feedback to the proposed zone changes being positive," she said.
"The Government is conscious of the importance of recreational fishing and has worked to minimise the effects on the pastime from the shore and from boats.
"Approximately 83 per cent of the shoreline will remain accessible for fishing."
Perth-based consulting marine ecologist Dr Trevor Ward said the sanctuary zone changes were an important step in helping to protect the island's unique marine life from the impacts of increasing visitor numbers.
"Rottnest's marine environment hosts an unusual blend of tropical and temperate marine life, including many species only found in this part of the State," Dr Ward said.
"The tropical corals and fish life that inhabit the reserve will now receive more meaningful levels of protection in which they can take sanctuary."
Ms McHale said particular parts of each sanctuary zone had been excised to maintain access to recognised shore-based fishing sites. Boat-based trolling would still be allowed in the entire West End area.
"New signage has been erected to remind people about the zones and a guide has been produced for anglers with GPS co-ordinates to help people fishing from boats," she said.
"The Carpenter Government is making decisions for the future to protect Western Australia's unique environment."
