The Department of Environment & Natural Resources recently sent a copy of a draft of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP) Management Plan to the Scuba Divers Federation of SA. The SDFSA asked our Secretary (& SDF Rep), Steve Reynolds to report details of the plan. It is in a draft form to allow the public to comment on it. The closing date for comments on the plan is 24th April, 1997. Comments will be used in the formulation of the final adopted plan.
The Marine Park is significant because it is the first major marine protected area in SA. It encompasses the GABMP Whale Sanctuary and the GAB Marine National Park.
The plan is in two parts, A & B.
Part A comprises over 25 pages of Management Prescriptions describing how the multi-use park will be managed. Part B comprises over 63 pages of Resource Information. It describes the natural habitats and resources of the park and neighbouring waters.
Our Society has background information on the park including “Proceedings: Great Australian Bight Marine Park Workhop” held in Ceduna early in 1994.