American River Aquatic Reserve was a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island in waters of the coastal lagoon known as Pelican Lagoon, in existence from 1971 to 2016. From 2012, the Pelican Lagoon Sanctuary Zone has fallen within the Encounter Marine Park. Pelican Lagoon is probably the oldest marine protected area in South Australia, having been protected since 1914.
| American River Aquatic Reserve South Australia | |
|---|---|
 | |
  American River Aquatic Reserve | |
| Nearest town or city | American River |
| Coordinates | 35°49′10″S 137°46′46″E / 35.8194°S 137.7795°E |
| Established | 1 December 1971[1] |
| Abolished | 20 October 2016 |
| Area | 15.39 km2 (5.9 sq mi)[2] |
| Managing authorities | Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) |
| Footnotes | Coordinates[2] Nearest town[3] |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
It was classified as an IUCN Category II protected area. On 20 October 2016, the reserve was abolished.
History and description edit
American River Aquatic Reserve, also called the Pelican Lagoon Aquatic Reserve in some sources, was declared on 30 November 1971 under the Fisheries Act 1971 and was re-proclaimed in 2007 following the enactment of the Fisheries Management Act 2007.[1][4] In 1987, it was reported as being the oldest operating aquatic reserve created under fisheries legislation in South Australia.[5][4][3][6]
From 2012, it was located within the boundaries of a “sanctuary zone” within the Encounter Marine Park.[7]
The aquatic reserve was classified as an IUCN Category II protected area.[2]
On 20 October 2016, the reserve was abolished.[8]
Description edit
The purpose of the aquatic reserve was to "protect seagrass mudflats and to provide a sanctuary for juvenile and adult fish, including whiting".[5] This was achieved by the prohibition of both fishing and the collection of marine organisms within its waters. Access was permitted and activities such as birdwatching, boating, swimming and recreational diving (i.e. snorkelling and scuba diving) were also permitted. The aquatic reserve covered the full extent of the lagoon up including part of the inlet stopping at a line running from Picnic Point across to the adjoining shore just south of the American River township.[6][3][5]
Present edit
The Pelican Lagoon Sanctuary Zone lies within Encounter Marine Park and is managed by National Parks South Australia. Pelican Lagoon is probably the oldest marine protected area in South Australia, having been protected since 1914.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Aquatic Reserves (as part of the proclamation of the Fisheries Act 1971)" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 30 November 1971. pp. 2263–2264. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD) - Marine Protected Areas in coastal waters of South Australia (refer "DETAIL' tab)". Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Search result for "American River Aquatic Reserve" with the following databases selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "Aquatic Reserves"". Location SA Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ a b Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) (2012), Management Plan for the Pelican Lagoon Aquatic Reserve; The South Australian Fisheries Management Series Paper number 56 (PDF), Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, pp. 5, 12 and 13, ISBN 978-0-9807387-2-8, archived from the original on 4 September 2014, retrieved 10 October 2016
- ^ a b c Anon (1987). Conservation Parks of Kangaroo Island Management Plan (PDF). Adelaide: Department of Environment and Planning, South Australia. pp. 65 and 73. ISBN 0-7243-8983-0.
- ^ a b Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) (2007), Aquatic Reserve: American River (PDF), Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2015, retrieved 10 October 2016
- ^ "Encounter Marine Park Management Plan 2012" (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. pp. 5, 31 and 35. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Fisheries Management (Aquatic Reserves) Proclamation 2016". The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 20 October 2016. p. 4071. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Encounter Marine Park". National Parks South Australia. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2020.