4.1 INTRODUCTION

Victoria's coastal waters are a valuable economic resource, with billions of dollars generated through commercial and recreational use. It is estimated that when amenity and environmental values are also included, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay alone contribute $7.7 billion to Victoria's economy, or 7.4% of Gross State Product⁶⁸

There are 4.7 million recreational fishing trips made in Victoria's coastal and inland waters per year⁶⁹ with the number of trips in Port Phillip Bay estimated at 200,000 per annum⁷⁰ In 1996, the contribution of the recreational fishing sector to Gross State Product was estimated to be $1.265 billion⁷¹ In a recent survey, the value of recreational fishing in the Melbourne region was estimated at $765 million. Within this region, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay were overwhelmingly the most popular destinations for fishing⁷² The worth of the commercial fishing catch in Victoria in 1995/96 was approximately $81 million, while production from aquaculture operations was worth over $15 million⁷³ Abalone, which represents Victoria's most important commercial fishery resource, is currently valued at $42.5 million⁷⁴ Victoria currently has an advantage in the international seafood market based on the perceived health of its marine environments⁷⁵ Introduced marine organisms such as toxic dinoflagellates have the potential to threaten this image. In 1992, for example, France banned scallops from Japan due to the presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins from toxic dinoflagellates. Japan has also banned abalone from Spain because of PSP toxins⁷⁶

The Victorian coast holds many attractions for domestic and international tourists, attracting more than 90 million visits each year⁷⁷ In 1995, total expenditure by visitors to the Great Ocean Road, the Gippsland Lakes, Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula was estimated at $632 million⁷⁸ Port Phillip Bay, the main recreational location for Victorians⁷⁹ receives 40 million visits each year, with visitors to the Bay spending an estimated $400 million⁸⁰ Recreational boating and diving also make significant contributions to the Victorian economy. Approximately 2 million recreational boating trips are taken on Port Phillip Bay annually⁸¹ and there are 100,000 qualified recreational divers in the State⁸² Diving related expenditure in Victoria was valued at $54 million in 1996⁸³ The enjoyment of such activities is particularly dependent on clear waters and a diversity of marine organisms.

Much of the appeal of Victoria's coast lies in natural attractions such as the aesthetic appeal of clean beaches and waters, and the opportunity to observe marine wildlife. In 1995/96 the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island attracted 520,000 visitors, generating $100 million⁸⁴ Of these visitors, 60% came from overseas⁸⁵ Dolphin and seal watching in Port Phillip Bay, and whale watching at Warrnambool are also increasing in popularity⁸⁶ The preservation of such natural attractions requires that the integrity of the marine ecosystem be maintained. The Committee notes the possible vulnerability of these attractions to ballast water impacts. In Massachusetts in 1988, for example, 16 whales died after eating Atlantic mackerel which contained small traces of dinoflagellate toxins⁸⁷ Similarly, in Britain, the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense has led to bird kills through the ingestion of mussels and sand eels⁸⁸ These examples highlight the impacts that exotic marine organisms can have on large marine animals.

In Victoria, important breeding grounds and habitat for marine flora and fauna are found in twelve marine protected areas. These include the Harold Holt Marine Reserve (Port Phillip Bay); Bunurong Marine Park, Shallow Inlet Marine and Coastal Park, Wilson's Promontory Marine Park and Marine Reserve; and Corner Inlet and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Parks.⁸⁹ Port Phillip Bay, Corner Inlet, Western Port Bay and the Gippsland Lakes support a large number of migratory wading birds, and are protected under international agreements including the Ramsar Convention for the protection of wetlands (Chapter 5.1.2) the Japan Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA) and the China Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA)⁹⁰