Heard and McDonald Islands - Management
The Australian Antarctic Division of the Australian Department of Environment and Energy manages Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the HIMI (Heard Island and McDonald Islands) Marine Reserve. A management plan is in place for the HIMI Reserve. The management plan sets out rules and guideline of the Reserve, objectives for managing the area, and specific management strategies including permits, zoning and environmental impact assessments.
Legislation and agreements
The most relevant legislation is:
These provide a national framework for environmental protection. Click to read about:
EPBC Act and regulations.
National agreements
International agreements
World Heritage
Heard and McDonald Islands are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. To be listed as a World Heritage Site, a location must meet UNESCO’s WHS criteria.
The HIMI Reserve and World Heritage Site provides an opportunity to observe ongoing geomorphic processes, as they are the only volcanically active subantarctic islands. It meets criteria (viii) to be an outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
The HIMI Reserve and World Heritage Site has no record of introduced species and is is extremely isolated. Its natural processes include glacial dynamics and coastal change. HIMI will be an important place to monitor the impacts of climate change, and as such meets criteria (ix) to be an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
Click to read more information about World Heritage criteria.
Zoning
Zoning is used to divide areas of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve into sections where particular activities are allowed. Zoning allows some more susceptible areas of the reserve to be afforded greater protection than others, while more human activities are allowed in less susceptible areas. The zones are:
Main Use Zone – located at Atlas Cove and Spit Bay. This is where long-term facilities are located and access and support operation can be conducted.
Visitor Access Zone – allows for low impact, short-term, land-based visitor activities, e.g. tourist ships. This zone provides relatively safe landing sites and access to attractions within walking distance, e.g. heritage sites, wildlife colonies, landscape features.
Wilderness Zone – allows for some human activities, but with the purpose to maintain the wilderness qualities of the terrestrial environment. Activities must not cause long-term impacts. Access is primarily for scientific research and monitoring.
Heritage Zone – an area of special protection, this is the location of the Atlas Cove Station site from 1947-1955. It restricts activities that may impact on the heritage value on the site.
Restricted Zone – areas highly sensitive to human activities. Access is highly restricted. This includes areas containing highly unstable lava tubes and sinkholes, cushion plants, significant numbers of South Georgian diving petrels and breeding sites for Antarctic prions.
Inner Marine Zone – includes areas within 12 nautical miles of the high tide mark on shore. Vessel and small craft use is regulated, to reduce the threats from boat discharges and movements.
Outer Marine Zone – includes areas beyond 12 nautical miles from shore to the edge of the Reserve. Regulations are less strict in this area, but still allow for protection in line with the objectives of the Reserve. A permit is not required into the Outer Marine Zone.
Environmental Approvals
Permits to visit the HIMI Reserve need to be submitted 4 months in advance. Visitors may only enter the Reserve in accordance with the permit. Permits state that people must not take, injure and interfere with organisms, except under very specific circumstances. Permits restrict visitors from interfering with scientific experiments underway and/or introduction of live species to the islands. Permits forbid bringing a diseased organism or live poultry into the Reserve, or mineral extraction and/or fishing. Before a permit is issued an environmental impact report must be submitted. Permit holders also have to be completely self-sufficient while in the Reserve, and must provide a compliance report within 60 days of the permit expiring.
Visitors rules
- all wastes generated must be removed on departure.
- food must be secured to limit foraging and dispersal by wildlife
- no overnight stays are allowed
- only set numbers of visitors are allowed on site
- foot travel is the only form of transport allowed within the Visitor Access Zone, Main Use Zone and Heritage Zone.
- visitors onshore must be able to maintain two-way communication with their vessels.
- shore landings can only take place in the Main Use Zone and the Visitor Access Zone.
- boats/vessels must minimise lights to avoid disturbance to birds.
- no ballast water can be discharged within 12 nautical miles of the chore.
- vessels entering the Territory must have come directly from an Australian Quarantine Inspections Service and have a deratting certificate.
- all visitors are provided with the Environmental Code of Conduct for Visitors to Heard Island.
Legislation and agreements
The most relevant legislation is:
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000
- Environmental Protection and Management Ordinance 1987
These provide a national framework for environmental protection. Click to read about:
EPBC Act and regulations.
National agreements
International agreements
World Heritage
Heard and McDonald Islands are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. To be listed as a World Heritage Site, a location must meet UNESCO’s WHS criteria.
The HIMI Reserve and World Heritage Site provides an opportunity to observe ongoing geomorphic processes, as they are the only volcanically active subantarctic islands. It meets criteria (viii) to be an outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
The HIMI Reserve and World Heritage Site has no record of introduced species and is is extremely isolated. Its natural processes include glacial dynamics and coastal change. HIMI will be an important place to monitor the impacts of climate change, and as such meets criteria (ix) to be an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
Click to read more information about World Heritage criteria.
Zoning
Zoning is used to divide areas of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve into sections where particular activities are allowed. Zoning allows some more susceptible areas of the reserve to be afforded greater protection than others, while more human activities are allowed in less susceptible areas. The zones are:
Main Use Zone – located at Atlas Cove and Spit Bay. This is where long-term facilities are located and access and support operation can be conducted.
Visitor Access Zone – allows for low impact, short-term, land-based visitor activities, e.g. tourist ships. This zone provides relatively safe landing sites and access to attractions within walking distance, e.g. heritage sites, wildlife colonies, landscape features.
Wilderness Zone – allows for some human activities, but with the purpose to maintain the wilderness qualities of the terrestrial environment. Activities must not cause long-term impacts. Access is primarily for scientific research and monitoring.
Heritage Zone – an area of special protection, this is the location of the Atlas Cove Station site from 1947-1955. It restricts activities that may impact on the heritage value on the site.
Restricted Zone – areas highly sensitive to human activities. Access is highly restricted. This includes areas containing highly unstable lava tubes and sinkholes, cushion plants, significant numbers of South Georgian diving petrels and breeding sites for Antarctic prions.
Inner Marine Zone – includes areas within 12 nautical miles of the high tide mark on shore. Vessel and small craft use is regulated, to reduce the threats from boat discharges and movements.
Outer Marine Zone – includes areas beyond 12 nautical miles from shore to the edge of the Reserve. Regulations are less strict in this area, but still allow for protection in line with the objectives of the Reserve. A permit is not required into the Outer Marine Zone.
Environmental Approvals
Permits to visit the HIMI Reserve need to be submitted 4 months in advance. Visitors may only enter the Reserve in accordance with the permit. Permits state that people must not take, injure and interfere with organisms, except under very specific circumstances. Permits restrict visitors from interfering with scientific experiments underway and/or introduction of live species to the islands. Permits forbid bringing a diseased organism or live poultry into the Reserve, or mineral extraction and/or fishing. Before a permit is issued an environmental impact report must be submitted. Permit holders also have to be completely self-sufficient while in the Reserve, and must provide a compliance report within 60 days of the permit expiring.
Visitors rules
- all wastes generated must be removed on departure.
- food must be secured to limit foraging and dispersal by wildlife
- no overnight stays are allowed
- only set numbers of visitors are allowed on site
- foot travel is the only form of transport allowed within the Visitor Access Zone, Main Use Zone and Heritage Zone.
- visitors onshore must be able to maintain two-way communication with their vessels.
- shore landings can only take place in the Main Use Zone and the Visitor Access Zone.
- boats/vessels must minimise lights to avoid disturbance to birds.
- no ballast water can be discharged within 12 nautical miles of the chore.
- vessels entering the Territory must have come directly from an Australian Quarantine Inspections Service and have a deratting certificate.
- all visitors are provided with the Environmental Code of Conduct for Visitors to Heard Island.