Determination Prohibiting use of Recreational Vessels with Fishing Gear in use - Part of the Lord Howe Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Area of the Sanctuary Zones of the Former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au C2013G01936 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000

 

Subregulation 12.56(2)

 

 

DETERMINATION PROHIBITING USE OF RECREATIONAL VESSELS WITH FISHING GEAR IN USE

 

PART OF THE LORD HOWE ISLAND COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVE –

AREA OF THE SANCTUARY ZONES OF THE FORMER LORD HOWE ISLAND MARINE PARK (COMMONWEALTH WATERS) AND ELIZABETH AND MIDDLETON REEFS MARINE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

 

 

I, CHARLTON CLARK, Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth Marine Reserves Branch, Parks Australia Division, Department of the Environment, delegate of the power of the Director of National Parks under subregulation 12.56(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000, HEREBY DETERMINE that the areas of the Sanctuary Zones of the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) declared by Proclamation on 7 June 2000 and revoked by Proclamation on 15 November 2012, and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve declared by Proclamation on 11 December 1987 and revoked by Proclamation that took effect on 17 November 2012, being the areas specified in the Schedule hereto, are areas of water where use of the following class of vessels:

 

  • vessels that are being used in connection with recreational fishing and have fishing gear on board and in use,

 

is prohibited at all times.

 

In this determination:

(a)  recreational fishing means fishing other than commercial fishing; and

(b)  fishing gear means equipment designed to be used to attract or take fish or other aquatic animals.

 

 

Dated this 14th day of December 2013

 

 

SIGNED

 

………………………………….

 

Charlton Clark


SCHEDULE

 

PART OF THE LORD HOWE ISLAND COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVE

 

The Sanctuary Zone of the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)

(a)  All of that area in the South Pacific Ocean bounded by the line(1):

(i)          commencing at the easternmost intersection of the parallel of latitude 31° 35′ 50″ S by the outer limit of the coastal waters of the State(2) of New South Wales, adjacent to Lord Howe Island;

(ii)        from there generally north-easterly and north-westerly along that outer limit to its intersection by the parallel of latitude 31° 30′ 40″ S;

(iii)      from there east along that parallel to its intersection by the outer limit of the territorial sea(3) of Australia adjacent to Lord Howe Island;

(iv)      from there generally southerly and south-easterly along that outer limit to its intersection by the parallel of latitude 31° 35′ 50″ S; and

(v)        from there west along that parallel to the point of commencement.

(b)  All of that area in the South Pacific Ocean bounded by the line(1):

(i)      commencing at the westernmost intersection of the parallel of latitude 31° 46′ 50″ S by the outer limit of the coastal waters of the State(2) of New South Wales, adjacent to Ball’s Pyramid;

(ii)    from there generally south-easterly and north-easterly along that outer limit to its easternmost intersection by the parallel of latitude 31° 46′ 50″ S;

(iii)  from there east along that parallel to its intersection by the outer limit of the territorial sea(3) of Australia adjacent to Ball’s Pyramid;

(iv)  from there generally southerly, south-westerly and north-westerly along that outer limit to its intersection by the parallel of latitude 31° 46′ 50″ S; and

(v)    from there east along that parallel to the point of commencement.

Notes:

  1. Geographic coordinates are expressed in terms of the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) as described in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN35 of 6 September 1995.
  2. The coastal waters of the State has the same meaning as in subsection 3 (1) of the Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980.
  3. The territorial sea of Australia and its external territories is established under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Australia has declared a 12 nautical mile wide territorial sea under the Act (by Proclamation which entered into force on 20 November 1990 and published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S297 on 13 November 1990). The outer limit of the territorial sea is 12 nautical miles seaward from the territorial sea baselines established under the Act (Proclamations published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S29 on 9 February 1983 and No. S57 on 31 March 1987).

 

 

 

 

 

The Sanctuary Zone of the former Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve

 

All of that area in the South Pacific Ocean, excluding the area south of the parallel of latitude 29° 53′ 00″ S, bounded by the line(1):

(i)            commencing at the point of latitude 29° 21′ 00″ S, longitude 158° 59′ 00″ E;

(ii)            from there east along the parallel of latitude 29° 21′ 00″ S to its intersection by the meridian of longitude 159° 14′ 00″ E;

(iii)            from there south-westerly along the geodesic to the point of latitude 30° 03′ 00″ S, longitude 159° 10′ 00″ E;

(iv)            from there west along the parallel of latitude 30° 03′ 00″ S to its intersection by the meridian of longitude 158° 55′ 00″ E; and

(v)            from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the point of commencement.

Notes:

1. Geographic coordinates are expressed in terms of the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) as described in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN35 of 6 September 1995.

 

 

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 were enacted to address the need for comprehensive protection of Australia's biodiversity and environment. This regulation was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to provide a robust legal framework for the conservation of environmental values and the protection of significant species and ecosystems. The regulations aim to ensure that activities which could potentially harm the environment are adequately controlled and managed. A specific objective of the regulation is to prohibit the use of recreational vessels with fishing gear in specific marine areas, such as the Sanctuary Zones of the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park and the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, to safeguard marine life and habitats within these zones. Charlton Clark, as the delegate of the Director of National Parks, has determined under subregulation 12.56(2) that the use of recreational vessels with fishing gear in these areas is prohibited at all times.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000, as amended, prohibit the use of recreational vessels with fishing gear in use in specific areas of the Lord Howe Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve. This determination applies to recreational fishing, which is defined as fishing activities other than commercial fishing, and includes any equipment designed to attract or take fish or other aquatic animals. The regulation specifically targets vessels that have fishing gear on board and in use within the Sanctuary Zones of the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. These zones, delineated in the Schedule to the determination, are situated in Commonwealth waters and encompass precise geographic coordinates specified under the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94). The jurisdictional reach of this regulation is Commonwealth, affecting entities and individuals operating within the specified marine areas. No stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are noted in the text; however, the application and enforcement of the regulation may extend or be restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The primary provision of the determination under subregulation 12.56(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 is the prohibition on the use of recreational vessels with fishing gear in the specified areas of the Lord Howe Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve, specifically within the sanctuary zones of the former Lord Howe Island Marine Park and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve. This prohibition applies to all vessels engaged in recreational fishing that have fishing gear on board and in use (subreg. 12.56(2)(a)). The term "recreational fishing" is defined as fishing activities that are not commercial in nature, and "fishing gear" includes any equipment designed to attract or capture fish or other aquatic animals (subreg. 12.56(2)(b)). Under this determination, any person operating a recreational vessel within the designated areas must ensure that no fishing gear is on board or in use while navigating through these zones. The obligation extends to all recreational fishing vessels, prohibiting the deployment of any fishing gear that could potentially harm the marine ecosystem. This requirement is crucial for maintaining the ecological integrity of the marine reserves, which are designated to protect and conserve the biodiversity of these areas. Failure to comply with this prohibition may result in legal consequences. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, violations of regulations pertaining to marine reserves can lead to civil and criminal penalties. For individuals, the maximum penalty for contravening these regulations can include a fine of up to $462,000 and, in more severe cases, imprisonment for up to five years. For corporations, the maximum penalty can be significantly higher, reaching up to $2,310,000, reflecting the seriousness of the environmental breaches. The enforcement of these penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the regulations designed to protect Australia's marine environments.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.