CHAPTER 15 • Australian Integrated Coastal Management: A Case Study of the Great Barrier Reef 291
However, these options provide only a partial solution to some of the problems and
it is more appropriate to incorporate these into comprehensive zoning and management plans. These plans have been designed with the following elements in mind:
• Planning areas should be as large as possible;
• Zones should encompass all acceptable usages;
• There should be a gradation from least through to most heavily protected zones to
buffer protected areas;
• Traditional and customary users of the managed area should be consulted and involved in the development and implementation of the management plans;
• Traditional law and management practices (including aboriginal and islander customs) which are consistent with the goals and objectives of modern management
should be incorporated to the greatest possible extent.
The zoning plans form an important element in achieving integrated management by providing a inechanism for regulation of activities within the legislation. To this end, zoning
plans have been progressively proclaimed for the different sections of the Park as follows:
• 1979: Capricornia section (12000 km 2 ) operational 1981;
• 1981: Cairns, Cormorant Pass section (35000 km 2 ) operational 1983;
• 1983: Far Northern section (80000 km 2 ) operational 1986;
• 1984: Central section (77000 km 2 ) operational 1987;
• 1984: Mackay-Capricorn section (137000 km 2 ) operational 1988.
Subsequently the Capricornia section has been incorporated into the Mackay-Capricorn section and there is a policy of reviewing each zoning plan after five years, although in practice this has been far less frequent.
The actual process of zoning had the following steps:
1. Compilation of a resource and usage information base for each park section;
2. Public comment on resources and information base and suggestions for what should
be in particular zont:s;
3. Initial draft zoning plan based on natural qualities, location and present and predicted usage patterns;
4. Release of draft plan for public comment;
5. Revision of draft based on public and government department input;
6. Gazetting and implementation of final zoning plan.
The levels of protection vary considerably with:
• Preservation zones and scientific research zones - where only controlled scientific
research is allowed;
• Marine-National Park zones - where most of the major uses permitted are scientific;
• Educational and recreational plus a marine park buffer zone;
• General use zones - where uses are held to levels that won't jeopardize the ecosystem. Generally commercial and recreational fishing is allowed but bottom trawling
is not permitted in General Use B.
However, these options provide only a partial solution to some of the problems and
it is more appropriate to incorporate these into comprehensive zoning and management plans. These plans have been designed with the following elements in mind:
• Planning areas should be as large as possible;
• Zones should encompass all acceptable usages;
• There should be a gradation from least through to most heavily protected zones to
buffer protected areas;
• Traditional and customary users of the managed area should be consulted and involved in the development and implementation of the management plans;
• Traditional law and management practices (including aboriginal and islander customs) which are consistent with the goals and objectives of modern management
should be incorporated to the greatest possible extent.
The zoning plans form an important element in achieving integrated management by providing a inechanism for regulation of activities within the legislation. To this end, zoning
plans have been progressively proclaimed for the different sections of the Park as follows:
• 1979: Capricornia section (12000 km 2 ) operational 1981;
• 1981: Cairns, Cormorant Pass section (35000 km 2 ) operational 1983;
• 1983: Far Northern section (80000 km 2 ) operational 1986;
• 1984: Central section (77000 km 2 ) operational 1987;
• 1984: Mackay-Capricorn section (137000 km 2 ) operational 1988.
Subsequently the Capricornia section has been incorporated into the Mackay-Capricorn section and there is a policy of reviewing each zoning plan after five years, although in practice this has been far less frequent.
The actual process of zoning had the following steps:
1. Compilation of a resource and usage information base for each park section;
2. Public comment on resources and information base and suggestions for what should
be in particular zont:s;
3. Initial draft zoning plan based on natural qualities, location and present and predicted usage patterns;
4. Release of draft plan for public comment;
5. Revision of draft based on public and government department input;
6. Gazetting and implementation of final zoning plan.
The levels of protection vary considerably with:
• Preservation zones and scientific research zones - where only controlled scientific
research is allowed;
• Marine-National Park zones - where most of the major uses permitted are scientific;
• Educational and recreational plus a marine park buffer zone;
• General use zones - where uses are held to levels that won't jeopardize the ecosystem. Generally commercial and recreational fishing is allowed but bottom trawling
is not permitted in General Use B.