Background

The wild harvest of sponges has been undertaken for more than 2000 years and sponges have been cultured (farmed) for more than 100 years in many parts of the world. These sponges have been used for a variety of purposes including bath and cosmetics, medical applications and more recently as a source of exotic chemicals (fine chemicals). The number of sponges available on the world market has reduced over recent years because of changes in water quality and over fishing in some areas.

Research

The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS), is currently undertaking research on the suitability of local species of sponge to culture in the Palm Group of islands and have undertaken preliminary investigation of culture techniques.

Sponge culture is a low technology aquaculture operation that has been successful in a number of Pacific Island communities and may allow for the economic development of Indigenous communities such as Palm Islands.

Indigenous Land Use Agreement

An Indigenous Land Use Agreement has been registered for a number of sites between Pelorus Island in the north and Brisk Island in the south. This Indigenous Land Use Agreement is the initial step in an approval process that will require Local, State and Commonwealth approvals in addition to agreement from the Traditional Owners.

Permit application

A joint Marine Parks permit application (State and Commonwealth) was received from Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation for CDEP on 20 December 2006 for seven (7) - four (4) hectare sponge farms in the Palm Islands.

The application was referred to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

A decision was made that the proposal was a Controlled Action under the EPBC Act on 6 September 2007, on the basis that the proposed sponge farms are likely to have a significant impact on the following matters protected by the EPBC Act:

• World Heritage properties
• National Heritage places
• Listed threatened species and communities
• Listed migratory species
• Commonwealth action.

The level of assessment has been set at Public Environment Report. The Terms of Reference for that Public Environment Report are currently being developed to satisfy the EPBC Act 1999, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and Queensland legislative requirements.

In general terms, an assessment of a proposal of the nature and scale of seven (7), four (4) hectare sponge farms are likely to require detailed information in relation to:

1. Potential Environmental Impacts:
• Entanglement of marine mammals and reptiles
• Potential for disease outbreak
• Potential for genetic change in wild stock
• Water quality changes
• Engineering of structures
• Impact on other species.
  
2. Potential Social Impacts:
• Use of the area by others and how that may be changed by the proposal
• Cultural and heritage considerations
• Safety considerations
• Aesthetical impacts.
3. Economic Issues:
• Ability to complete (develop)
• Ability to remove if abandoned or damaged.

AIMS Permit [ Acrobat Format 392 KB]