Projects

Results: A $68,000 study to determine the socio-economic and environmental impacts of proposed south east Australian Marine Protected Areas (MPA) has returned a staggering 578:1 benefit-cost ratio or $42 million value to the community.

Peter Neville, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) chair said the FRDC-funded study by the University of Tasmania’s Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) significantly influenced the final MPA boundaries.

It also reduced the impact of the MPA on the south east fishing industry, communities and economies, Mr Neville said.

The MPA review covered Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian marine areas.

An independent evaluation of the project by Agtrans Research Ltd shows that as a result of the project revised MPA boundaries dramatically improved conservation outcomes and increased the MPA by about 30 per cent from 171,000 square kilometers to 226,458 square km.

“The outcome was a marked improvement on the initial zoning proposal, a win-win for both the environment and the fishing industry” Mr Neville said.

The study not only assessed the environmental aspects but also social and economic impacts.

Mr Neville said alternative approaches to minimise industry impacts were debated with the final outcome minimising the impact to about five pc of the industry.

“Initial indications showed 90pc of the seafood industry that fished in the proposed MPA area would be affected with over 150 jobs lost so this has been a significant benefit to both the industry and the region’s communities,” he said.


The significant economic, social and environmental benefits include:

• Less impact of the displaced catch leading to lower financial impact of sales foregone and less impact on industry profits;
• Less potential unemployment;
• Less impact on providers of inputs to the industry supply chain such as processors, and repairs and maintenance suppliers;
• Lower compliance costs due to greater industry ownership of the revised MPAs;
• More efficient development of MPAs for other Australian fisheries;
• Improved set of biodiversity and conservation assets; and
• Less impact on localised fishing communities and reduced social costs of disruption and dislocation of families, particularly in Tasmania.
  

The project is also an example of highly successful collaboration where industry, researchers and government agencies from three states worked together to prepare and deliver an alternate proposal to the Australian Government.

“The valuable south east fisheries region was a prime target for MPAs to ensure long-term ecological viability of existing biodiversity, and marine and estuarine systems,” Mr Neville said.

“The south east fishery has many unique features so is vital that due consideration be given to how these are managed.”