The Marine Biodiversity Hub is supporting the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities'(previously Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts DEWHA) marine planning by providing national and regional maps of predicted patterns of marine biodiversity in Australia’s oceans, and an increased range of options for its management. This capability is crucial to conserving and managing Australia’s marine biodiversity and will complement Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) due to be in place by 2012. Together, the NRSMPA and off-reserve management provide the best option for long-term protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in light of competing demands on the marine environment.

Also see our 2012 NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub Factsheet