West Island Encounter Bay Aquatic Reserve
West Island Encounter Bay Aquatic Reserve is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in waters adjoining West Island immediately south of Fleurieu Peninsula and to the west of the town of Victor Harbor.[3]
| West Island Encounter Bay Aquatic Reserve South Australia | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
  West Island Encounter Bay Aquatic Reserve | |
| Nearest town or city | Victor Harbor |
| Coordinates | 35.6064°S 138.5891°E |
| Established | 1 December 1971[1] |
| Area | 5.9 km2 (2.3 sq mi)[2] |
| Managing authorities | Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) |
| Footnotes | Coordinates[2] Nearest town[3] |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
It was proclaimed on 30 November 1971 in order to protect sites used for abalone research in the waters within 100 metres (330 feet) of West Island. As of 2014, the aquatic reserve was larger in extent and had been divided into three zones. The original reserved area has been divided in two zones - known in 2014 as ‘Area 2’ and ‘Area 3’. ‘Area 2’ which is located on the north-west side of the island is a prohibited area, i.e. both access and the taking of marine organisms is prohibited. ‘Area 3’ which is located on the south east side of the island, is a zone where the taking of marine organisms is prohibited. ‘Area 1’ which extends from the island to within 200 metres (660 feet) of the coastline of Fleurieu Peninsula is zoned for fishing using line and where the taking of marine organisms other than fish is by permit.[4][5][1]
While its name suggests a relationship with the bay known as Encounter Bay, the aquatic reserve is outside the bay to the south-west of its ‘seaward limit’ as defined in proclamations made in the years 1987, 2006 and 2016 by the Australian government concerning the bay’s status as a ‘historic bay’ under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.[6][7]
Since 2012, it has been located within the boundaries of a “habitat protection zone” of the Encounter Marine Park with ‘Area 2’ being designated as a “restricted access zone” within the marine park’s zoning regime.[8]
The aquatic reserve is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.[2]
References
- "Aquatic Reserves (as part of the proclamation of the Fisheries Act 1971)" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 30 November 1971. pp. 2263–2264. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- "Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD) - Marine Protected Areas in coastal waters of South Australia (refer "DETAIL' tab)". Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- "Search result for "West Island Encounter Bay Aquatic Reserve" with the following databases selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "Aquatic Reserves"". Location SA Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- Anon (1983). Island conservation parks of Backstairs Passage and Encounter Bay management plans (PDF). Adelaide: National Parks and Wildlife Service. ISBN 0-7243-4588-4.
- "West Island Aquatic Reserve" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- "Seas and Submerged Lands (Historic Bays) Proclamation 2006". Commonwealth of Australia. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- "Seas and Submerged Lands (Historic Bays) Proclamation 2016". Commonwealth of Australia. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- "Encounter Marine Park Management Plan 2012" (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. pp. 5 and 39. Retrieved 10 October 2016.