The Batemans Marine Park will be of great benefit to our region's marine environment and the Shire's economy but the Zoning can be improved to enhance these results.

The Eurobodalla Shire has had its Nature Coast image enhanced. As more and more of the Australian coastline is converted to suburbia the Marine Park helps to make our Shire more attractive. Negative perceptions, based mainly on misinformation, can and will be overcome not just by advertising but by word of mouth as people experience the benefits in the years ahead.

However, this effect might be too positive leading to even faster growth in the Shire, as evidenced by areas around Jervis Bay such as Vincentia. Council has complained of the problems posed by the "Sea Change" phenomenon and the Marine Park is likely to add to these pressures.

Sanctuary Zones:

• will enable complete marine ecosystems to re-establish as both habitat, marine species (fish and invertebrates) and food webs will be protected in these areas;
• will allow a build up of species (territorial fish, abalone, lobsters, pipis, etc) that can move into adjacent waters either as adults or larvae;
• will enhance recreational fishing in adjacent waters - in other Marine Parks "fishing the line" is very popular because catches are more plentiful and fish larger;
• are an attraction for tourists because people like to dive and snorkel in areas rich in marine life and safe from spearfishers;
• are important for education and scientific research.

However, for education and tourism benefits to be maximised, more rocky reef Sanctuary Zones need to be in places that are readily accessible from shore and relatively safe for children and snorkellers. These should be spaced along the whole coast to benefit all parts of the Shire. The Zoning could be improved by converting some Habitat Protection Zones to Sanctuary Zones. These should include --

• Guerilla Bay - the whole bay including the northern side of Burrewarra Point. This area is ideal for children. Guerilla Bay is heavily degraded from overfishing now, compared to first observations in mid 1960s. However, would regenerate with protection making a brilliant recreational, educational and study site. The north side of Burrewarra Point has a wide variety of species and habitat types.
• Shark Bay, on the southern side of the isthmus to Broulee Island (leaving the popular rock fishing area near the surf beach open for recreational fishing). Beach hauling could continue on the northern side of the isthmus.
• the northern side of Mullimburra Point (again leaving most of the beach for fishing). The eastern end of Mullimburra Pt should be made a sanctuary zone as it is spectacular snorkelling, and lightly fished - it would be a real tourism/education asset.
• the northern side of Potato Point which is not heavily fished and has high biodiversity, many unusual invertebrates and is habitat for black cod and wobbegongs; and
• Mystery Bay west (towards the shore) of a line from the beach launching ramp north to the southern tip of the fishing platform.
• The NW corner of Montague around to the NPWS mooring would also be better as sanctuary zone as this would protect the reef communities favoured by scuba divers. The santuary zone could be quite narrow but would help promote dive tourism.

Habitat Protection Zones:

• will enhance recreational fishing since trawling, estuary hauling and estuary mesh netting will not occur in these areas and more fish will be left for recreational fishers;
• will allow the benthic (bottom dwelling) marine life to re-establish and so support other mobile species; and
• will eliminate trawl bycatch in these areas which will increase prey species for fish targeted by recreational fishers.

Special Purpose Zones - commercial abalone harvesting
If abalone stocks are to recover, or even be maintained, then all harvesting in sanctuary zones should be prohibited. These areas will have more and larger fish that prey on abalone and lobsters so human harvesting should not be permitted as well.

Lobsters too are under great pressure from fishers. The protected stocks of abalone and lobsters will be able to reseed other suitable habitats with larvae and juveniles.

Council's role
Councils are instruments of state government and Marine Parks are both state and federal policy so council should be supporting the Marine Park and endeavouring to obtain the best zoning outcome for the Shire's environment and people.