NSW Marine Estate identifies the threats to NSW waterways
Extended deadline for submissions regarding threats and risks to the marine environmentThe first Statewide threat and risk assessment (TARA) for the NSW Marine Estate is calling on community input, with the deadline now extended from March 31 to April 18 to ensure stakeholders have extra time to prepare their submissions.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director, Aquatic Environment, Sarah Fairfull, said The Draft statewide TARA aims to identify, assess and prioritise the threats to the social, economic and environmental benefits the NSW community derive from the marine estate.
"Some key findings of the draft statewide TARA include higher and greater risks to estuaries than coastal and marine waters from various threats, such as estuary modifications, and impacts on water quality such as urban stormwater discharge, clearing riparian vegetation and adjacent habitat including wetlands and agricultural runoff," Ms Fairfull said.
But as we reported earlier, boating and fishing were also identified as high risk threats. This would therefore require additional management and, moreover, the feared creation of new Marine Parks.
"The purpose of this engagement is for stakeholders and the community to consider the evidence used to determine the risk levels assigned to threats and provide any new or additional evidence or local examples that may support or change these," Fairfull said.
Six workshops with key stakeholders from State and Local Government, recreational fishing, commercial fishing, conservation, diving, boating and universities were held in regional areas and Sydney during February 2017. Participants highlighted the need for additional time to provide considered
comment on the draft statewide TARA.
A series of 10 Aboriginal workshops have now concluded along the NSW coast to seek out any additional evidence that can inform the Aboriginal cultural findings in the statewide TARA.
The draft TARA Report, background reports and other supporting material are available at www.marine.nsw.gov.au.
The public comment period closes on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
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