Seven marine parks transferred to authority

SEVEN marine parks and sanctuaries will be now managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

The authority accrued another 12,146 hectares of land management responsibility on March 1, taking their total to 20,228 hectares between Point Impossible and Hopkins River.

The authority will be responsible for what it describes as providing a holistic approach to addressing the impacts of increasing visitation, environmental processes, severe weather events and climate change.

The seven parks are:

Point Danger Marine Sanctuary

Point Addis Marine National Park

Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary

Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary

Twelve Apostles Marine National Park

The Arches Marine Sanctuary, and

Merri Marine Sanctuary

The parks and sanctuaries include Sea Country of both the Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

The transfer of management responsibilities will not mean any changes to how the marine parks are protected.

Parks Victoria will continue to be visible in these areas and maintain their role in monitoring and caring for the land during the transition period.

The seven parks and sanctuaries will continue to be managed under the National Parks Act.