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Conference proceedings of the Nature Conservation

Marine Protected areas are special places set aside to protect the plants and animals that live in the seas. This video examines the special values and importance of marine protected areas, through a series of case studies around Australia including the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve in New South Wales which faced initial opposition to its declaration but now has considerable community support; the Hervey Bay Marine Reserve in Queensland, centre of a lucrative whale-watching industry; and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia's largest marine protected area. It also contains a spectacular footage of some of Australia's diverse and interesting marine life, from whale sharks to corals, from giant kelp to tiny fish, from seagrass to stromatolites.

The marine environment is an important resource base for the people of the South Pacific island countries. The livelihood of many people in this region is closely connected with the sea. The potential for enhanced development and utilisation of marine resources is considerable, particularly as the demand for resources increases and the land becomes limited in its capacity to fulfil this demand. It is therefore imperative that appropriate measures are taken to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

Most South Pacific island countries are characterised by small land masses surrounded by vast stretches of ocean. As such the marine environment is an important resource base for the people of these countries, with the livelihood of many people being closely connected with the sea. The potential for enhanced development and utilisation of marine resources is considerable, particularly as the demand for resources increases and the land becomes limited in its capacity to fulfil this demand. It is therefore imperative that appropriate measures are taken to safeguard the quality of both the marine and terrestrial environments.