Marine and Estuarine Protected Areas (Mepas) a National Perspective

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Abstract
The effective protection, conservation and management of Australia’s diverse marine and estuarine habitats and ecosystems are necessary to ensure their viability and that of their resources for future generations. A national system of marine and estuarine protected areas (MEPAs), where all major habitats are represented, would greatly assist these objectives. Existing legislative mechanisms have allowed Commonwealth and State/Territory agencies to proclaim more than 200 marine and estuarine protected areas (MEPAs) – the majority around the coastline, some offshore and several in the External Territories. Although these MEPAs cover more than 38,000,000 hectares, many of our marine and estuarine habitats are not included in the protected area system. The long-term viability of some existing MEPAs is affected by their size, impacts from neighbouring developments and level of funding for management and surveillance. To date, MEPAs and their objectives have generally not been considered as important factors in coastal zone management planning. As most MEPAs occur within the coastal zone and will be affected by activities within it, their future viability and resultant benefits to the community and the nation will be greatly enhanced by inclusion in future planning for coastal zone management. The present system, including the role of Commonwealth, State/Territory and Non-government organisations, is reviewed. This paper was first presented at the first Coastal Management Conference, Coffs Harbour, 7-9 October 1986.

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