Around the country, six new regional Australian Marine Park advisory committees recently came together for the first time.

These committees will play an important role in supporting the management of Australian Marine Parks, a network of 58 marine parks that help protect Australia’s offshore marine environment.

Parks Australia manages Australian Marine Parks and they have an ambitious, world-class management vision. Parks Australia works closely with marine park users and stakeholders to ensure the marine parks deliver conservation and sustainable use benefits around the country.

Director of National Parks, Dr James Findlay, who heads up Parks Australia, said that members provided insightful advice at the inaugural meetings, providing valuable information on regional marine issues and the needs of local marine park users.

Parks Australia will draw on this advice to shape marine park management programs and projects to ensure that Australian Marine Parks benefit all Australians.

“The new committees bring together knowledgeable, passionate people with experience and skills across tourism, science, sea-country, conservation, commercial and recreational fishing and education,” Dr Findlay said.

“The common thread across this diverse range of issues is that they all contribute to the effective management of Australian Marine Parks. Australia is a global leader in marine environmental management and rolling out active management of the Australian Marine Parks is the next exciting step in securing a better, brighter future for our oceans.”

“Thank you to all our new members – they have a wealth of knowledge to share and I was delighted by their energy and enthusiasm. We have some wonderful opportunities ahead.”

The advisory committees represent the South-east, South-west, North and Temperate East networks and Coral Sea Marine Park. Committee meetings will be held twice a year, with members meeting at key regional locations around Australia.

Michelle Howard, a new member of the North-west Marine Parks Advisory Committee and fishing tourism charter business owner, welcomed the creation of the new committees.

“I’ve been operating in Western Australian waters for over 20 years – some of which are now in Australian Marine Parks. I personally found the inaugural meeting to be most informative and beneficial and look forward to further participation.”

For more information about the new Australian Marine Park Advisory Committees members and stay up-to-date with AMPAC discussions via regular communiques visit our partnerships page.