Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve – Changes to zoning boundaries and activities allowed
The draft management plan for the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve includes changes to management zone boundaries at Osprey, Shark and Vema Reefs (see Map 1). These changes have been made to improve the level of protection for the high conservation values of Osprey Reef, and also to provide for fishing access to the deep water areas adjacent to the southern end of Osprey Reef and Shark and Vema Reefs in recognition of the importance of these reefs for the recreational, charter and game fishing user groups.
Zoning boundary changes
Osprey Reef - North Horn area (see Map 1)
The western boundary of the Marine National Park Zone along the north-west side of Osprey Reef has been moved to the west to increase the protection of the North Horn area, which is is one of the main destinations for diving and snorkelling tourism.
Osprey Reef (South-west area), Shark and Vema Reefs (see Map 1)
The Marine National Park Zone along the south-west area of Osprey Reef and on the western sides of Shark and Vema Reefs has been moved to the east (to the reef edge), to allow for recreational and charter fishing to take place immediately adjacent to the reefs. This is in recognition that fishing, such as game fishing for pelagic fish, occurs in deep water adjacent to these reefs.
Map 1. Revised zoning boundaries at Osprey, Shark and Vema Reefs
The draft management plan also provides further clarity to the commercial fishing industry about the allowable commercial fishing activities in the marine reserve. This includes specific reference to mid-water trawl, which would be allowed under a class approval in the Habitat Protection Zone (Seamount), Multiple Use Zone and General Use Zone (refer Table 1).
Table 1. Commercial fishing activities
Activity / Marine National Park Zone(IUCN II) / Conservation Park Zone
(IUCN IV) / Habitat Protection Zone
(Coral Sea)
(IUCN IV) / Habitat Protection Zone (Seamounts)
(IUCN IV) / Multiple Use Zone
(IUCN VI) / General Use Zone
(IUCN VI)
Commercial fishing (except as indicated below) / û / CA / CA / CA / CA / CA
Handline / rod and reel / û / CA / CA / CA / CA / CA
Minor line / poling / û / û / CA / CA / CA / CA
Dropline / û / û / CA / CA / CA / CA
Dive and hand collection (including sea cucumber and marine aquarium fish) / û / CA / CA / CA / CA / CA
Crab and fish trap/pot / û / û / CA / û / CA / CA
Purse seine / û / û / û / CA / CA / CA
Pelagic longline / û / û / û / CA / CA / CA
Mid-water trawl / û / û / û / CA / CA / CA
Demersal trawl / û / û / û / û / û / CA
Gillnet (set mesh nets, demersal and pelagic) / û / û / û / û / û / û
Demersal longline (including auto-longline and trotline) / û / û / û / û / û / û
Vessel transiting / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü / ü
ü Activity is allowed in accordance with plan prescriptions (without the need for a permit or class approval)
û Activity is not allowed at all (i.e. totally prohibited).
CA Activity is allowable in specified zones in accordance with a class approval issued by the Director of National Parks.
environment.gov.au/marinereserves 3