NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy 2018–2028.

The NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy 2018–2028 establishes the overarching framework for the coordinated management of the marine estate through to 2028, with a planned five-year health check. The health check will establish whether risk levels have changed in the first five years of the Strategy; fill knowledge gaps in the environmental, social, cultural and economic information available – the lack of this information is, in itself, a priority threat; and evaluate new or emerging threats that were not initially identified.
The Strategy identifies nine management initiatives and under each of them depicts which environmental assets and/or community benefits (social, cultural and economic) will improve as a result of the management intervention. The management initiatives do not operate in isolation; rather, it is the collective set of actions that address priority threats. 1) To improve water quality and reduce marine litter for the benefit of marine habitats, wildlife and the community. Actions include: Improve water quality in agricultural and urban catchments using a pilot-based implementation of the Risk-based Framework; by clarifying NSW Government and local government roles and responsibilities; building capacity to implement the Risk-based framework; improving minimum requirements for industry standards and ensuring compliance; investigation and provision of funding programs and financial incentives; Implement a targeted marine litter campaign, etc. 2) Delivering healthy coastal habitats with sustainable use and development. Actions include: limiting impacts of foreshore development and uses on coastal and estuarine habitats; using infrastructure renewal projects (urban and rural) and agricultural land-use changes as an opportunity to address legacy land-use issues in coastal catchments; ensuring that estuary entrance management and dredging is done in a way that maintains or improves estuarine and marine habitat health; reducing the cumulative impacts of existing agricultural infrastructure on freshwater flows and estuarine hydrology; promoting the use of best practice to design and assess foreshore development. 3) Planning for climate change. Actions include: Enhance mapping of estuarine communities (such as saltmarsh and mangroves) to identify those communities most at threat from sea level rise and apply this information in decision making; build the knowledge and capacity of coastal and marine managers; investigate the impacts of climate change on Aboriginal cultural heritage values in the marine estate, and implement strategies to reduce or adapt to this risk, etc. 4) Protecting the Aboriginal cultural values of the marine estate. Actions include: work with Aboriginal communities to evaluate current arrangements for Aboriginal involvement in Sea Country management and decision-making; improve the incorporation of values into decision-making on the marine estate; increase Aboriginal participation in Sea Country management, planning and monitoring, etc. 5) Reducing impacts on threatened and protected species. Actions include: Improve strategic planning and coordination for marine threatened and protected species programs; strengthen partnerships; improve the awareness, reporting and data sharing, mapping of key habitat areas. etc. 6) Ensuring sustainable fishing and aquaculture. Actions include: Introduce harvest strategies and evaluate ecological risk in partnership; Conduct an environmental assessment of recreational fishing, periodically review current rules, and take action to improve fish stocks and to address threats associated with harvest, bycatch and illegal sale of fish; Explore opportunities for new marine aquaculture ventures; Apply best-practice guidelines for seagrass protection in the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy; Enhance fisheries via targeted fish stocking and other activities to improve fishing opportunities where appropriate; Partner with fishing and aquaculture sectors to deliver information and training to fishers in NSW to improve self-compliance and sustainable fishing practices, and develop economic opportunities. 7)Enabling safe and sustainable boating. 8) Enhancing social, cultural and economic benefits. 9) Delivering effective governance.