Management Objective 4 of the draft plan is to partner with Aboriginal people for protection of Aboriginal cultural values and improved marine park management. This objective includes a suite of management actions that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for Aboriginal cultural values, and
• incorporate traditional Aboriginal knowledge in marine park management.

These management actions respond to threats identified to Aboriginal cultural values in marine parks, and will involve partnering with Aboriginal people including, Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Traditional Owners to support effective management across the NSW marine park network.

Commercial fishing industries have significantly contributed to the development, culture and values of many regional areas in NSW. Fresh local seafood supports community health and wellbeing and local commercial fishing, aquaculture, seafood and tourism industries.

Management Objective 5 of the draft plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective includes a suite of management actions for commercial fishing that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for sustainable commercial fishing and aquaculture
• provide safe opportunities that are free from conflict.

These management actions respond to threats identified to the fishing industry and seafood community, including but not limited to threats related to:

• ecosystems, habitats and species
• water quality
• climate change
• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance

Many commercial fishers are also passionate about healthy fish habitats and are seeking opportunities to actively contribute to marine park management. The Network Management Plan includes actions to identify opportunities for commercial fishers to develop and implement habitat rehabilitation and clean-up projects.

Marine parks support oyster growers and other forms of aquaculture in providing fresh local seafood to communities. Regional seafood events such as the Narooma Oyster Festival help to bring the community together to enjoy the benefits of marine parks.

Management Objective 1 of the draft plan is to improve water quality and reduce marine litter within marine parks for the environment and community and Management Objective 5 of the draft plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. These objectives drive a suite of management actions for aquaculture that aim to:

• improve the consistency of consent requirements for aquaculture in marine parks
• build on the benefits of existing aquaculture special purpose zones
• improve management of diffuse and point source water quality threats to marine parks
• better manage intermittently open and closed coastal lakes and lagoons in marine parks
• promote the value of the local aquaculture industry and opportunities to enjoy fresh local seafood.

These management actions respond to threats identified to the aquaculture industry and seafood community, including but not limited to threats related to:

• ecosystems, habitats and species
• water quality
• climate change
• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance

Many oyster growers are also passionate about healthy fish habitats and are seeking opportunities to actively contribute. The draft plan includes actions to identify opportunities for the aquaculture industry to develop and implement habitat rehabilitation and clean-up projects.

The role of local government is recognised throughout the draft plan as a lead and partner in the delivery of management actions across the mainland marine park network. Actions ranging from protecting Aboriginal cultural sites (4.1e), to developing urban stormwater management plans (2.3d) and litter clean up programs (2.2b) to improve water quality and marine habitats are outlined in the draft plan.

Local government will play a key role in ensuring threats are adequately addressed at the local marine park level and will contribute to management of threats across the network.

Marine conservation underpins a range of social and economic values, including eco-tourism, research, enjoying biodiversity and beauty and education.

Marine conservation is foundational to the draft plan because the primary purpose of marine parks is to conserve the biological diversity, and maintain ecosystem integrity and ecosystem function, of bioregions in the marine estate. Environmental values critically underpin social, cultural and economic values.

The draft plan details:

• environmental values of marine parks, including marine and coastal species, environmental processes and a wide variety of habitats.
• threats to these environmental values.

The threats most directly related to marine conservation have been grouped under the themes of 'ecosystems, habitats and species', 'water quality' and 'climate change'.

Management Objective 1 aims to protect and enhance species, habitats and ecosystems within marine parks. This objective includes a suite of management actions for marine conservation, including:

• improve oversight of land-based planning and development to minimise impacts on marine park values
• conserve and restore marine and estuarine habitat, species and ecosystem values
• manage beaches and foreshores to reduce threats to marine park values
• minimise the impact of pests and disease
• enhance marine habitat.

Marine science is strongly valued by the community in all NSW marine parks. Members with skills in marine science serve on the local advisory committee for each marine park. Research into biodiversity and, to some extent, ecosystem integrity, continues to inform marine park management.

Numerous actions in the draft plan Network Management Plan provide improved opportunities for marine science, including:

• opportunities to identify sites for scientific research
• support for social, cultural and economic research
• development of a marine park network monitoring program that links with the broader statewide Marine Integrated Monitoring Program
• improved communication of research activities and their findings
• identification of appropriate opportunities for citizen science.

Research and education (and compliance) have been highlighted as important management tools to conserve values and manage threats across all six management objectives set out in the draft plan.

Specific programs for marine science and for education are proposed in the draft plan. These would be developed further once the plan is finalised.

Objective 5 of the draft plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective includes a suite of management actions for maritime industry that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for boating
• protect maritime heritage.

Boating underpins many marine park uses and values but launching facilities are subject to increasing congestion. Local stakeholders are also not always given the opportunity to ensure their design meets local needs.

Objective 5 of the draft plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective includes a suite of management actions for recreational boating that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for boating
• improve access and opportunity for outdoor recreation and enjoyment
• provide safe opportunities that are free from conflict.

These management actions respond to threats identified for recreational boating, including but not limited to threats related to:

• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance.

Marine parks can provide unique opportunities to protect and enhance specific, high value recreationally important species. Innovative structures and infrastructure can also enhance recreational fishing opportunities and offset areas set aside for ecological protection.

Objective 5 of the draft Plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective drives a suite of management actions for recreational fishing that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for boating
• improve access and opportunity for outdoor recreation and enjoyment
• improve access and opportunity for recreational fishing (including spearfishing)
• provide safe opportunities that are free from conflict
• improve tourism opportunities
• enhance bequest and intrinsic values.

These management actions respond to threats identified for recreational fishing, including but not limited to threats related to:

• ecosystems, habitats and species
• climate change
• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance.

Many recreational fishers are also passionate about healthy fish habitats and are seeking opportunities to actively contribute to marine park management.

The draft plan includes actions to identify opportunities for recreational fishers to develop and implement habitat rehabilitation, citizen science and marine litter clean-up projects.

Tourism is an important marine park value that can be enhanced in priority locations while minimising any impact on other values.

Objective 5 of the draft Plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective drives a suite of management actions for tourism that aim to:

• protect maritime heritage
• improve access and opportunity for outdoor recreation and enjoyment
• provide safe opportunities that are free from conflict
• improve tourism opportunities
• enhance bequest and intrinsic values.

These management actions respond to threats identified including but not limited to threats related to:

• ecosystems, habitats and species
• water quality
• climate change
• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance.

Many forms of outdoor recreation are valued within marine parks and enhanced infrastructure can improve safe access, reduce user conflicts and enhance access opportunities.

Objective 5 of the draft plan is to improve access and opportunity for enhanced social, cultural and economic values from marine parks. This objective includes a suite of management actions for recreational water use that aim to:

• improve access and opportunity for boating
• improve access and opportunity for outdoor recreation and enjoyment
• provide safe opportunities that are free from conflict
• enhance bequest and intrinsic values.

These management actions respond to threats identified to the fishing industry and seafood community, including but not limited to threats related to:

• ecosystems, habitats and species
• water quality
• climate change
• community access and opportunity
• community engagement and governance.