ISSUES 66, APRIL 2004

New Publisher for Issues

Editorial

Australia's Oceans Policy
National Oceans Office
Australia's Oceans Policy was launched in December 1998 to manage 16 million km² of oceans between 3 and 200 nautical miles from the coast - Australia's exclusive economic zone. At the core of the oceans policy is the development of regional marine plans. The National Oceans Office plays a key role in implementing this policy through driving the development of regional marine plans.

Turn the Tide
Australian Conservation Foundation
Our marine environment is subject to the vagaries of eight different governments, numerous local governments and hundreds of different laws. There is a compelling and urgent case for legislative and administrative leadership and reform, and a suite of conservation measures including a network of marine national parks.

Marine National Parks
Victorian National Parks Association
Victoria became a world leader in marine conservation when it established a system of highly protected marine national parks and sanctuaries in June 2002. The marine national parks system is the result of 11 years of investigation, community consultation and public debate, and it places Victoria at the forefront of international efforts to conserve the marine environment.

The Benefits of Marine Protected Areas
Department of Environment and Heritage
The importance of marine protection areas and the need for better management of coastal and marine environments has been recognised internationally. Current management systems are failing to maintain productivity and biodiversity within our oceans. However, the effective management of marine protection areas can have significant benefits for all marine stakeholders.

The Australian Seafood Industry
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australian fisheries are fortunate to operate in one of the world's cleanest environments. Australia spans a number of climatic zones giving rise to aquatic environments that can be broadly divided into open ocean, reef, estuarine and inshore area, and freshwater habitats.

The Fishing Industry Today
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
The Australian fishing industry includes many stakeholders with competing interests - covering the commercial, recreational and indigenous sectors. However, all three sectors have the common interest of ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia's oceans, to ensure their lifestyle continues.

Shame on Australian Fisheries
Craig Bohm, Sustainable Fisheries Campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society
The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes a recent, frank report released by the Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences. The report questions whether Australia's Commonwealth-managed fisheries are being managed sustainably, and looks to the government for answers.

Seafood to Avoid and Questions for the Fish Merchant
Australian Marine Conservation Society
It is difficult to make a sustainable seafood choice. Although a few fisheries have come a long way on the path to sustainability, most have a very long way to go. This article provides you with the information to make a sustainable seafood choice.

Fisheries Assessment and Guidelines
Environment Australia, Sustainable Fisheries Assessment
The Australian Government has incorporated ecologically sustainable development requirements into Commonwealth environment and fisheries legislation, in response to ongoing concerns about the environmental impacts of fishing and the risk of over-exploitation of marine resources. These requirements include the independent assessment of the environmental performance of fisheries management which are prepared using the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries.

What is Seaweek? Discover Me in the Sea!
Marine Education Society of Australasia
Seaweek is an annual community education campaign organised by the Marine Education Society of Australasia Inc (MESA), a non-profit organisation. It is conducted each year to focus community awareness, provide increased information and encourage an appreciation of the ocean, its plants, animals and habitats. Seaweek aims to promote safe, sensitive and sustainable use of the sea.