Smart eye will watch Coral Sea activities

VESSEL monitoring technology will be used to regulate the Coral Sea rather than having more patrols, under the new management plan for the offshore reserve.

North Queenslanders have until September 20 to provide feedback on the Federal Government’s draft plans for the 989,842sq km conservation zone, under the review of Australia’s marine parks.

Australia’s national network of marine parks was established by Labor in 2012, and suspended by the Abbott government a year later, which committed to a review of the management scheme.

The draft plan for the Coral Sea has so far been met with a mixed reaction from stakeholders, including tour operators, game fishermen, commercial fishers and conservationists.

Sally Barnes, the Federal Government’s director of national parks, said it was important there was no duplication of regulation between different agencies when it came to managing the reserve.

She said the department was also examining new enforcement and monitoring technologies, including acoustic monitoring and vessel monitoring systems.

“I think if you really have the outcome in mind, and then have the enforcement and compliance to fit that, we will be able to work together to protect ( the Coral Sea),” she said.

“This is beyond people in boats. We need people out there.

“We need people to work with us, to be our eyes and ears on the water, but we also need to really be smart about new technologies to really keep an eye on what’s happening.”