10.6 NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INTRODUCED EXOTIC MARINE SPECIES
There are a number of national strategies for the management of introduced exotic marine species:
10.6.1 Natural Heritage Trust - Coast and Clean Seas Initiative
In 1997 the Federal government committed $1,100 million to the Natural Heritage Trust fund to address environmental problems in Australia505 A portion of Trust funds ($100 million) will be used to protect and improve coastal areas under the Coasts and Clean Seas Initiative506 This initiative includes an Introduced Marine Pests Program aimed at reducing marine pest introductions and controlling their spread in Australian waters507 Under this program, $3 million will be available over four years to suitable projects, with grants ranging from up to $50,000 for publicly advertised components, and up to $100,000 for Commonwealth projects. One million dollars will be allocated to the Strategic Ballast Water Research Program (Section 10.7)508
10.6.2 Coast Care
Coastcare is a program jointly funded by the Federal and State governments with the aim of encouraging community participation in coastal management. The Commonwealth is providing funds of $22 million to the year 2000-01 for Coastcare projects509 The Committee notes that most Coastcare activity to date has been directed at the management of coastal terrestrial systems510
10.6.3 Community monitoring of marine pests
Environment Australia, in conjunction with CRIMP, ABWMAC and AQIS, is conducting a $100,000 pilot program of community monitoring of marine pests. A national coordinator has recently been appointed to establish information exchange networks. It is intended that the program will utilise existing community networks such as Coastcare to identify and eradicate new incursions by exotic marine species.
The Committee commends efforts to encourage community participation in the monitoring of marine pests. The Committee notes, however, that due to the taxonomic difficulties of identifying marine species, it would be unwise to predicate early identification of exotic species on the basis of community programs alone.
10.6.4 National rapid response strategy
The Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), through its Standing Committee on Conservation (SCC) is currently involved in discussions for the development of a national rapid response capability to deal with new incursions of exotic marine species511 Such a capability would involve the establishment of a Ready Response Trust Fund to enable states and territories to take immediate action to eradicate new introductions512
