Abrolhos management plans attempt to balance environmental, tourism and fishing issues

A new management plan for the Abrolhos Islands has been met with a mixed bag of responses, with some stakeholders praising it for striking the right balance between commercial interests and the environment, while one tourism advocate has criticised it for holding back the islands’ potential. The State Government plan sets guides for environmental protection as well as the development of tourism and fishing industries on the islands over the next decade, and is the first since the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park was created in 2019. The plan lays out guidelines for the monitoring of many species in the region, such as seabirds, sea lions and many plants, the protection of the coral reefs, and new biosecurity plans. Ecologist Dr Chris Surman praised the plan and said conservation management was extremely important because of the Abrolhos Islands’ high level of biodiversity. “I think it’s the first time we’ve seen a proper, considered management plan for the terrestrial areas of the Houtman Abrolhos. All the previous plans didn’t really focus on the important conservation,” he said. The plan also aims to make the area more accessible for tourists, with overnight camping accommodation, improved mobile telecommunications and new infrastructure, such as public moorings and a jetty on Rat Island. Blue Juice Charters owner Gary Mitchell said a thorough plan for the management of the islands was welcome and long overdue. “Infrastructure for tour operators is something we’ve wanted for a long time, for instance,” he said. However, City of Greater Geraldton councillor Victor Tanti slammed the plan, which he said did not do enough to develop tourism. “There’s almost no mention of the need for permanent land-based or near-land tourist accommodation and associated facilities such as restaurants so people could actually stay for a few days, other than to say ‘future’ but no timeline for that and clearly no enthusiasm for it either,” he said. Cr Tanti said Abrolhos Islands’ potential would continue to go to waste. “Mainstream and managed tourism is feasible on the Abrolhos but the State Government has only listened to stakeholders who want to sing the same old songs,” he said. Another priority is keeping the region a low-impact, low-take fishing area. Anthony Haygarth, local commercial fisher and president of the Easter Group Abrolhos body corporate, said the plans protected the sustainability of the Abrolhos Islands without unnecessarily hurting the fishing industry. “I think it’s a pretty good compromise,” he said. “It provides a strong foundation to support deliverable tourism outcomes while at the same recognising the importance of the islands as a logistical base for the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries.” Mr Haygarth added he felt the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development had engaged with fishers in good faith and was pleased their concerns were considered. DPIRD senior management officer Nikki Sarginson said the goal of management was to continue balancing the interests of various interest groups and to develop the islands responsibly. “The vision is really to promote sustainable tourism growth on land and water while protecting the natural values and amazing cultural heritage, the fishing heritage, the community values as well,” she said.