Solar energy business plan Heard and McDonald Islands

What is the Heard Island & McDonald Islands Marine Reserve management plan?

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014-2024 is due for its 10-year statutory review. This review is being undertaken by the Australian Antarctic Division, a Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. We are inviting members of the public to provide comments on a:

Will Australia expand the Heard & McDonald Island Marine Reserve?

The Australian Government is proposing to expand the Heard and McDonald Island (HIMI) Marine Reserve by over 300,000 km 2 to around 379,000 km 2. The expanded reserve would cover nearly 90 per cent of the Exclusive Economic Zone around the islands and bring the proportion of Australian waters protected through marine reserves to 51 per cent.

When is public consultation on the Heard Island & McDonald Islands Marine Reserve open?

Public consultation on the proposal to expand the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and proposal to prepare a draft management plan for the reserve was open from 5 July 2024 to 5 September 2024. The public comment period has now closed.

Why should we expand the Heard & McDonald Islands?

The proposed expansion would extend protections over important marine environments, and help protect globally significant habitat for endangered seabirds and seals. The proposed expansion also allows for the continuation of the sustainable fishing industry at Heard and McDonald Islands.

Why is the Heard & McDonald Islands important?

It is the biggest contribution to ocean conservation anywhere on the planet this year. The Heard and McDonald Islands marine reserve will quadruple in size, an increase of almost 310,000 km2 – an area larger than Italy – and will provide greater protections for an environment unlike anywhere else in the world.

Should the Heard & McDonald Islands Marine Park be bigger?

“Quadrupling the size of the Heard and McDonald Islands marine park would protect more of our oceans around the island and seals, albatross and whales, that call these oceans home.