leagal aspects of the whale watching.pdf - International Fund for ...
leagal aspects of the whale watching.pdf - International Fund for ...
leagal aspects of the whale watching.pdf - International Fund for ...
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egulations set <strong>for</strong>th below. All <strong>the</strong> available in<strong>for</strong>mation was reviewed and taken into account by <strong>the</strong> working group<br />
<strong>of</strong> lawyers in arriving at <strong>the</strong> options and recommendations outlined in Section 7.<br />
AUSTRALIA (QUEENSLAND)<br />
On November 5, 1997, <strong>the</strong> Australian state <strong>of</strong> Queensland adopted new legislation on <strong>whale</strong> conservation which<br />
includes provisions <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> regulation <strong>of</strong> <strong>whale</strong> <strong>watching</strong>. The new Act took four years to complete. A publication by<br />
<strong>the</strong> Queensland Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Environment contains <strong>the</strong> legislation, background in<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>the</strong> main<br />
species <strong>of</strong> interest, a management programme, and a code <strong>of</strong> practice. At present this represents <strong>the</strong> most<br />
comprehensive management programme in Australia, and probably <strong>the</strong> world. However, coastal states such as<br />
Queensland can only exercise jurisdiction up to three nautical miles <strong>of</strong>fshore; Australian Federal State jurisdiction and<br />
legislation applies in <strong>the</strong> area beyond three nautical miles and up to Australia’s 200 nautical mile EEZ limit. Some<br />
Australian states ei<strong>the</strong>r do not have any relevant regulations or have less rigorous ones than Queensland. However, a<br />
special Federal marine park has been established <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great Barrier Reef; <strong>the</strong>re are also some state marine parks.<br />
Nature Conservation (Whales and Dolphins) Conservation Plan 1997<br />
The legislation itself includes provisions concerning:<br />
• Definition <strong>of</strong> terms<br />
• General purpose and intent <strong>of</strong> management<br />
• Taking, using, keeping and protecting <strong>whale</strong>s and dolphins<br />
• Accidental taking or stranding <strong>of</strong> <strong>whale</strong>s or dolphins<br />
• Special interest <strong>whale</strong>s and dolphins<br />
Management Programme<br />
The Plan has to be administered in conjunction with <strong>the</strong> management programme, <strong>the</strong> requirements <strong>of</strong> which<br />
include:<br />
• fixing a date <strong>for</strong> review <strong>of</strong> efficacy <strong>of</strong> legislation<br />
• a definition <strong>of</strong> commercial operators<br />
• limitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>whale</strong> <strong>watching</strong> to marine parks<br />
• reservation <strong>of</strong> a right to limit <strong>the</strong> <strong>whale</strong> <strong>watching</strong> season<br />
• predictability <strong>for</strong> operators as well as transparency and fairness<br />
• issue <strong>of</strong> non-transferable permits (to avoid creating a property right in <strong>the</strong> permit itself which could give rise<br />
to claims <strong>for</strong> compensation) 1<br />
• guidelines <strong>for</strong> permit assessment<br />
• a levy <strong>of</strong> $2 (Australian) per passenger to cover costs<br />
1 Administrative arrangements exist to allow outgoing operators to sell <strong>the</strong>ir businesses to new persons or companies who will receive a new<br />
licence if <strong>the</strong>y meet <strong>the</strong> necessary criteria.<br />
12 Legal Aspects <strong>of</strong> Whale Watching