A multiple-use marine planning framework that informs ecologically sustainable development outcomes for marine resource use

The challenge faced by government, industry, and the community is to plan for and manage the use of our marine environment in an ecologically sustainable manner. Marine planning is a new concept for managing ecologically sustainable development and use in South Australian marine waters. A marine planning framework has been developed to provide for the delivery of six plans, based on ecological zoning arrangements, covering state waters in South Australia's eight marine bioregions. The model for the framework has been developed on the principles of ecosystem-based management, ecologically sustainable development, and adaptive management. Fundamental to this framework is an ecologically based zoning model that defines areas according to marine, coastal, and estuarine habitats and species identified as suitable indicators of ecosystem integrity. Each zone is supported by goals, objectives, and strategies for use and development in order to protect the integrity of these ecosystems.