Review of the 2018 Australian Marine Park management plan
Parks Australia is reviewing management plans for 4 Australian Marine Park networks – Temperate East, North, North-west, and South-west – and the Coral Sea Marine Park. These plans expire in 2028 and cover 44 marine parks in total.
The review process involves:
- Independent evaluations of the 2018 management plans. The evaluations were independently undertaken by ORIMA Research and included desktop analysis and interviews with First Nations peoples and key stakeholders to provide their views on the effectiveness of the implementation of management plans.
- The statutory management planning process, includes public consultation on:
- the proposal to prepare new management plans - seeking feedback on what should be considered in the new plans
- the draft management plans - seeking input on areas such as proposed zoning and the broader approach to management.
- The statutory proclamation process to change the Lord Howe, Norfolk and Gifford marine parks, involves public consultation on proclamation proposals.
Download Independent Evaluations:
- DNP Response to Marine Parks Management Plan evaluation findings (PDF, 139 KB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan (DOCX, 3 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the North Marine Parks Network Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the North Marine Parks Network Management Plan (DOCX, 3 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the North-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the North-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan (DOCX, 4 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan (DOCX, 3 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the Temperate East Marine Parks Network Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
- Report on findings from the independent evaluation of the implementation of the Temperate East Marine Parks Network Management Plan (DOCX, 4 MB)
- Independent Evaluation of the Implementation of Marine Park Management Plans: Final report on overall findings (PDF, 2 MB)
- Independent Evaluation of the Implementation of Marine Park Management Plans: Final report on overall findings (DOCX, 4 MB)
Timeframes
| Step | Timing | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director of National Parks (DNP) commissions independent evaluations of 2018 management plans | September 2025 |
| 2 | Stakeholder engagement on the independent evaluation and review parameters | December 2025– mid-2026 |
| 3 | Publish independent evaluations | July 2026 |
| 4 | First public consultation on proposals to develop new management plans and consultation on proclamation proposals for Norfolk and Lord Howe marine parks | 31 July - 30 September 2026 |
| 5 | DNP prepares draft management plans DNP prepares consultation reports on proclamation proposals | After step 4 |
| 6 | Ministerial approval of identified proclamation recommendations Governor‑General alters existing proclamations Altered proclamations commence (TBC) | After step 5 |
| 7 | Consultation on draft management plans (minimum 30 days) note: these may not be released for consultation at the same time, and will progress to the next steps at different times. | After step 6 |
| 8 | DNP prepares consultation report for each plan and finalises management plans | After step 7 |
| 9 | Ministerial approval of final management plans | After step 8 |
| 10 | Management plans laid before both houses of Parliament | After step 9 |
Key directions for the review
Ensure 30% of Australia’s ocean is highly protected
The Australian Government has committed to protecting 30% of Australia’s ocean in highly protected zoning (IUCN 1a and II) by 2030, in support of global targets for biodiversity conservation. The review of Australian Marine Park management plans for 4 Australian Marine Park networks – Temperate East, North, North-west, and South-west – and the Coral Sea Marine Park is the platform to achieve this target.
To achieve the target, we need to add at least 523,980km2 of highly protected areas to the existing 2.2 million km2. For more information, visit Achieving 30 by 30 - DCCEEW.
To achieve the 30% high protection goal, activities may include:
- Targeted outer boundary expansions
- Evidence based zoning refinements within existing boundaries
- No new parks have been identified at this point, and the Government is not entering into the Review with an intention to create new parks. However, new areas have not been ruled out if a strong case emerges.
Limiting intensive activities
The Australian Government is proposing to limit intensive activities where feasible. This is consistent with the management approach adopted in the South-east Network in 2025 but will be subject to analysis across each of the 4 marine parks networks and the Coral Sea Marine Park. Intensive activities are not compatible with highly protected zones.
Sequencing of management plans
The Temperate East Network and Coral Sea Marine Park management plans will be prioritised if not all management plans can be completed before their expiry in 2028, however, Parks Australia is working to complete all reviews in-line with expiry of current management plans.
First Nations engagement
The Review provides an opportunity to strengthen the integration of First Nations perspectives and values in the management of Australian Marine Parks. We support targeted place-based and national engagement.
Parks Australia has established a national Australian Marine Parks First Nations Reference Group. The purpose is to ensure that First Nations advice is considered in a manner that is independent, transparent, and accountable, and that engagement processes reflect the principles of self-determination, partnership, free, prior and informed consent, and cultural integrity.
Sector engagement
Parks Australia will be engaging with peak national and state-based bodies throughout the review process, as well as through the statutory management planning and proclamation processes.
Parks Australia will also engage with relevant agencies and fishing industry organisations in relation to fisheries business assistance measures.
Background on Australia’s Marine Protected Areas commitment
Over 2 decades ago, all governments in Australia committed to a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). The primary objective of the NRSMPA is to establish and manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of marine protected areas.
The NRSMPA comprises 60 Australian Marine Parks managed by the Director of National Parks, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, and over 250 marine protected areas managed by state and territory agencies.
The 60 Australian Marine Parks managed by Parks Australia cover around 43%, or 3.8 million km2, of Australia’s marine environment. The 10-year statutory management plans under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) set out the Director of National Parks’ approach to managing these marine areas.
Contact
To find out more about the broader review, contact Parks Australia at: marineparksreview@dcceew.gov.au.
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