Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve proposed proclamation and proposal to prepare a draft management plan

We support the expansion of the Marine Reserve but we do not support the design which fails to fully protect key conservation areas.

• Recommendation 1: Gunnari ridge (Southern Outer shelf areas < 300 m depth) should be added to the Marine Reserve as a Sanctuary Zone or National Park Zone (IUCN 1a or II).
• Recommendation 2: Provide full protection as Sanctuary Zone or National Park (IUCN Category 1a or II) to the following key conservation areas:
- Southern Canyons
- Shell Bank and Williams Ridge
- Western Plateau

The Heard and McDonald Islands Australian fishery targeting Mackerel Icefish and Patagonian Toothfish are a key threat to seabirds in the HIMI EEZ. Whilst the regulation of the longline fishery has been effective in eliminating albatross bycatch, both target fish species are important top order predators, and a key part of food webs connecting pelagic and benthic ecosystems. These fish are an important food source for King and Macaroni Penguins, Black-browed Albatross, and Antarctic Fur Seals. Fishing within the EEZ has the potential to impact on these dependent species. Given the compounding effect of climate change, and the many threatened species that rely on the HIMI EEZ, a precautionary approach requires a higher level of spatial protection to provide the required level of prey-resource protection.