- In short: The federal government intends to significantly expand the marine park around Macquarie Island
- What's next? The governor-general needs to give the final sign-off
Australia's federal environment minister has signed off on plans to almost triple the size of the marine park off Macquarie Island.
An isolated, subantarctic island, Macquarie Island sits about halfway between Hobart and Antarctica.
It is home to up to 100,000 seals and roughly 4 million penguins, including the royal penguin, which is only found on Macquarie and its two surrounding islands.
It is also an important breeding ground for vulnerable seabirds.
The island was put on the World Heritage List in 1997.
In 1999, the marine park was established, protecting 162,000 square kilometres of water off the island's south-east coast.
The federal government is now set to add an extra 385,000 square kilometres of water to the marine park, fully surrounding the island.
Ninety-three per cent of the park, an area larger than Germany, will be completely closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities.
"This will be a huge win for ocean protection," said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
The federal government first floated the proposal back in late February.
It was met with joy by conservationists, and concern from the commercial fisheries operating in the area who described it as a "baseless ocean-grab".
Since then, it has had two months of public consultation, with more than 14,700 submissions — 99 per cent of which the government says were positive.
Only two commercial companies, Austral and Australian Longline Fishing, operate in the waters around Macquarie Island.
They have previously been described by the minister as "operating at world's best practice on reducing bycatch".
In a joint media release in February, the companies described the proposal to expand the park as "an attack on one of the world's most sustainable, well-managed fisheries".
Ms Plibersek said some slight adjustments have been made in response to submissions by the "sustainable commercial fishing industry".
"It's very clear that their business will be completely unaffected by the changes that have been made," she said.
"They won't be able to trawl in the future, [but] they don't trawl now."
She described the proposal as a "really good compromise" that would allow the companies to continue to fish in a "very sustainable and conscientious way".
"They continue to be able to sell their product into the most discerning markets because buyers know these fish are caught sustainably," she said.
"It actually goes to show that you can have a very high level of marine protection side-by-side with a sustainable fishery."
'No brainer' social media posts questioned by industry
The Seafood Industry Association told ABC News Radio it is supportive of environmental conservation — but concerned about how the expansion came about.
"We're not fighting marine parks, we're not fighting environmental conservation, what we're saying is this is the first interaction we've had with the minister, we're concerned about the process," said chief executive Veronica Papacosta.
She said the two companies that fish in the area were consulted, but the association never got a chance to discuss the proposal beyond public consultation.
"The companies were offered some input into the process, but we can't help but feel that the decision was predetermined," she said.
"Also to be antagonised by social media posts [by the minister] that this was a 'no brainer' and 'done deal' … is not the approach we would expect from a minister looking to engage with industry and carry out proper consultation process."
Ms Papacosta said that while the companies can still fish in the marine park, it does not mean it won't impact them.
"What we're not sure of and what we can't counteract at the moment is what those market impacts might be for the companies," she said.
"What does that mean for them in the market space? That'll be only be revealed once they're now fishing in a category four marine park."
Ms Plibersek said if all goes well, the expanded park should be in place by July 1st.
Decision 'future-proofs' unique values
Conservation group the Pew Charitable Trusts said wildlife relied on the oceans surrounding Macquarie Island for food and described the move as a "really, really great outcome".
National Oceans manager Fiona Maxwell said the government had "got the balance right" between conservation and fishing.
"It can showcase how conservation and sustainable fishing can really work well together in our marine parks to protect and manage our oceans for the future," she said.
"This fishery is one of the best, we know that it is well managed and sustainable and we very much support the continuation of that fishery in those waters.
"This marine park also helps to future-proof the unique values of this area from other more destructive fishing or the threat of seabed mining so we think the government has got the balance right here."
