This petition seeks to modestly expand the eastern boundary of Jawbone Marine Sanctuary to include The Crystals.

This shallow marine reef environment, the remains of The Crystal Pool now largely reclaimed for Gloucester Reserve, is under constant threat from over harvesting and uses incompatible with other bay users.

Jawbone Marine Sanctuary (the Jawbone) covers only 30ha, the smallest of Victoria’s marine protected areas established under the National Parks (Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries) Act 2002 protecting representative samples of Victoria’s unique marine environment.

The Jawbone was recommended for its ecological values, its contribution to representation of Port Phillip Bay environments, for its significance as a scientific reference area, and for non-consumptive recreation and its own intrinsic value. The Crystals has similar value.

The Jawbone and The Crystals supports habitats including rocky basalt reef, seagrass beds, intertidal flats, saltmarsh and the largest occurrence of mangroves in Port Phillip Bay.

The reef has a diverse algal community and an associated fauna which is, for Port Phillip Bay, unusually unmodified.

The softer subtidal sediments are fine clayey sands, which support high species richness.

Many submissions made to the Environment Conservation Council (ECC), prior to the implementation of the marine protected areas, expressed concerns that adequate funding would be provided to manage these areas effectively. (ECC, Final Report, August 2000).

The boundaries of the Jawbone at that time were therefore located in part to facilitate enforcement. As a result, The Crystals, a precious marine reef environment with very similar ecological values to The Jawbone, does not have the protection of marine sanctuary status.

Extending the boundary of The Jawbone to include The Crystals would increase the size and ecological value of this small marine sanctuary.

For the Hobsons Bay community, this sanctuary would be secured as a favourite swimming, snorkelling and tourist destination.

We the undersigned ask the Premier, the Mayor, the local councillor, the Minister for Parks and the Minister for Ports to take action to have the National Parks (Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries) Act 2002 amended to increase the size of the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary to include The Crystals by moving its eastern boundary eastwards.

The exact placement of the new boundaries should be based on expert advice regarding the environmental and social values of the area with community consultation.