Two recent Marine Conservation / Science Reports from Victoria

Victoria is committed to the establishment of a world class representative
system of marine protected areas (MPAs), and to the development of adaptive
management strategies for maintaining the integrity of marine ecosystems as part
of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). Since
the introduction of the National Reserve System Program, Victoria has worked
cooperatively with the Commonwealth, States and Territories by adopting national
approaches and scientific guidelines to facilitate the identification and
establishment of protected areas.

A  Marine, Coastal and Estuarine Investigation is the process being used by the
Victorian Government to deliver a representative system of MPAs. This work was
undertaken by the Environment Conservation Council (ECC) to recommend a
preferred approach for the progressive establishment of  a representative system
of  MPAs. The final draft report for the Marine, Coastal and Estuarine
Investigation (Environment Conservation Council, 1999) was released in December
1999 for public comment. The ECC have recommended a system of: