Marine protected areas in a blue economy - challenges for Oceans Policy

In September 2016, the Australian Government released the long-awaited Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review Report1 (Review). Australia's network of Commonwealth marine reserves (CMR) was declared in November 2012 by the then Labor Government and management plans for the reserves were announced soon after. The reserves are located in Commonwealth waters, from 3 nautical miles (approximately 5.5 km) from the coast to 200 nautical miles (approximately 370 km).