The Park’s Management Plan

WHAT IS IT ?

It is a strategic document, the Natural Park’s spine. The management plan outlines the expected outcomes, broken down into objectives, which it is necessary to reach to optimize the management and the protection of the maritime space covered by the Natural Park of the Coral Sea. The plan also outlines the measures that can be implemented in accordance with the orientations approved by New Caledonia’s legislators.
The term « management » is employed here to express the idea that every agreed upon objective must be met and evaluated over time. The document outlines, chapter by chapter, the objectives and sub-objectives to be met within a five-year period (2018-2022). The management plan has been adopted in march 2018.

Plan de gestion 2018-2022

The PARK’s MANAGEMENT PLAN: CONTENT

The Natural Park of the Coral Sea houses natural resources and sustainable resources management areas. Therefore, the orientations which New Caledonia intends to abide by are stipulated in the Government decree signed on 23 April 2014. There are 8 orientations, which were used as a starting point during the document’s writing process.

The objectives of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea are as follows :

 

  • protect  ecosystems and maintain the existing links between them,
  • preserve    rare and migratory endangered species,
  • identify  and enhance the Natural Parks cultural heritage,
  • reclaim  the culture of the sea to establish strong links between men and the ocean
  • support  the development of responsible tourism
  • sustain  a local fishing model, always mindful of the maritime environment,
  • limit  the impacts and risks associated with maritime transportation,
  • foresee the future thanks to scientific research,
  • ensure  that the management committee runs smoothly 
  • gather  propositions from the general public
  • Continuously monitor and evaluate the implementation of this first management plan,
  • mutualize,  reinforce  and optimize human and financial resources,
  • coordinate  measures between all the actors involved on a marine protected area,
  • develop privileged partnerships with neighboring countries (Vanuatu, Salomon Islands, Australia et Papua New Guinea),
  • integrate networks to make New Caledonia’s voice heard at the regional and international levels.

 

Pristine reef, Jean-Michel Boré, IRD Mission Pristine

Pristine reef, Jean-Michel Boré, IRD Mission Pristine

Humpback whale, Opération Cétacés

Humpback whale, Opération Cétacés

Coral reef, Mael Imirzaldu, Conservation International

Coral reef, Mael Imirzaldu, Conservation International

Green turtle, Entrecasteaux Atolls, (c) Cyrille Huruguen, ASNNC.

Green turtle, Entrecasteaux Atolls, (c) Cyrille Huruguen, ASNNC.

THE MANAGEMENT PLAN WRITING PROCESS

This strategic document was written by a managing committee composed of 32 members (representing political and customary institutions, professionals and environmental associations), in which decisions are taken collegially and the result of a participatory approach.

THE MANAGEMENT PLAN WRITING PROCESS

  • 20 December 2016 : The Park’s management plan is approved by the committee members, with the exception of one association.
  • February 2017 : The management plan is presented to the population as part of a public consultation aiming to gather propositions and fine tune the document.
  • In 2017 : The management plan of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea is presented to the government, three years after its creation, as stipulated in the decree which made it a reality.
  • March 2018 : Approval of the Decree on the management plan 2018-2022.
Gorgone on the Pristine reef, (c) Jean-Michel Boré, IRD.

Gorgone on the Pristine reef, (c) Jean-Michel Boré, IRD.

Grey shark, Laurent Vigliola, (c) IRD.

Grey shark, Laurent Vigliola, (c) IRD.

Sooty Terns taking off, Chesterfield plateau, (c) Théa Jacob - WWF

Sooty Terns taking off, Chesterfield plateau, (c) Théa Jacob - WWF

Coral reef, Phillipe Frolla, (c) University of New Caledonia

Coral reef, Phillipe Frolla, (c) University of New Caledonia

Latest News

Surveying a reef in the Coral sea Marine Park ©Daniela Ceccarelli
15 May 2019
Science

In April 2018, Parks Australia and James Cook University scientists began a three year program to monitor the health of some of Australia’s remotest and most pristine coral reefs in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

Entrecasteaux îlot Huon ©DAM-NC SPE
15 March 2019
Science environnement

 

 

 

A new five-year action plan for the Entrecasteaux Atolls, linked to the 2018-2022 natural park of the Coral sea management plan, replaces the existing management plan which concluded at the end of 2018.

Récif corallien, ©Francesca Benzoni IRD-Projet POST BLANCO
18 September 2018
Évènement environnement

The natural park of the Coral Sea now has 28,000 square kilometres (10,810 square miles) of reserves. Three decrees adopted Tuesday, august 14 by the government of New Caledonia define very precisely the outlines.