10.1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INTRODUCED EXOTIC MARINE ORGANISMS IN VICTORIA

Victoria's obligations to protect biodiversity under international and national treaties, conventions and other agreements are discussed in Chapter 5 of this report. In addition, the Victorian Government has made commitments to preserving biodiversity, preventing pollution, protecting and conserving Victoria's natural assets and managing Victoria's natural resources on a sustainable basis. These commitments are outlined in Government policy documents such as; Natural Resources-Sustainable Management in Victoria; Port Phillip Bay-Protecting and Enhancing Melbourne's Playground; and Conservation and Environment-A Clean and Green Victoria.

Primary responsibility for the management of exotic marine species once they have been introduced into Victorian waters rests with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE).

The stated `mission' of the Department is to:

...manage the conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources and urban and rural public lands to maintain their long term values and promote Victoria's competitiveness and attractiveness⁴⁶⁶

The Committee notes that while it is considered by the Department that;

..we do not have a key role in ballast water, because that is essentially going to rest with the fishing and port industries in terms of the actual controls⁴⁶⁷

it is accepted by DNRE that;

..the responsibility does rest with us to manage marine pest issues once they are introduced⁴⁶⁸

The responsibility for this aspect of ballast water management derives from the Department's aim to:

· conserve Victoria's biological diversity;

· manage fisheries and aquatic resources on an ecologically sustainable basis;
· manage Victoria's coastline and local ports (previously `associated' ports);

· ensure Victoria's catchments are managed within an ecologically sustainable framework; and

· manage the natural, cultural and historical values of national parks and reserves⁴⁶⁹

The Department administers various Victorian statutes which relate to exotic marine organisms and their impacts. The principle statutes, which are discussed in detail in Chapter 5, are;

· Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
· Fisheries Act 1968
· National Parks Act 1975
· Coastal Management Act 1995⁴⁷⁰
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment portfolio is administered by the Minister for Conservation and Land Management and the Minister for Agriculture and Resources. The Minister for Conservation and Land Management is responsible for the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and the Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources has responsibility for the Fisheries Act 1995. The Department views these two Acts as the main legislative vehicles for managing and controlling exotic marine species once they have been introduced⁴⁷¹

The Department participates in or contributes to a range of research related to the impact of exotic organisms (Section 10.7). The Department has advised the Committee that the Department spends approximately $400,000 per year on research relevant to exotic marine species⁴⁷²and that most of the work on marine pests undertaken by DNRE has been done under the Fisheries program⁴⁷³