Zones

The zones in Solitary Islands Marine Park aim to conserve marine biodiversity while providing for a range of uses including beach activities, swimming, surfing, charter and recreational fishing, commercial fishing, scuba diving, sailing, boating, research and other activities.

Map of Solitary Islands Marine Park

The marine park Zoning Map and User Guide and the FishSmart NSW app provide information about the zoning arrangements and management rules in the park.

Some of the content on this page may not be fully accessible. To obtain an accessible version of this content please email  marine.environment@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Types of zones

ZonesDescriptionActivities
Sanctuary zone Provide the highest level of protection for biodiversity and natural and cultural features Activities that do not involve harming any animal, plant or habitat, including many recreational activities, such as boating, surfing, snorkelling, diving and permitted research and educational activities
Habitat Protection zone Protection to physical and biological habitats by reducing high impact activities

Recreational and commercial activities (including recreational fishing and some forms of commercial fishing), scientific research, educational activities and other activities

Species that can be taken from Habitat Protection zones.
General Use zone Provide for a wide range of environmentally sustainable activities Recreational and commercial activities (including recreational and commercial fishing), scientific research and educational activities
Special Purpose zone Provide for sites requiring special management arrangements including protection of Aboriginal and other cultural features or for marine facilities, or for specific park management reasons. Traditional Aboriginal use, aquaculture, marinas and research facilities

Species that can be taken from Habitat Protection zones

Common name Class or FamilySpecies
Finfish (fish with scales) Class Osteichthyes All species with the exception of those species listed as protected or threatened under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 including black cod, estuary cod, giant Queensland groper, eastern blue devilfish, Ballina angelfish and the elegant wrasse.
All sharks and rays Class Chondrichthyes All species except great white, grey nurse and the Herbsts nurse sharks

Lobster, crayfish

  • Eastern rock
  • Slipper
  • Painted rock
 

Jasus verreauzi

Scyllarus spp.

Panulirus spp.
Prawns Family Penaeidae All species in this family
Squid Family Sepiidae All species in this family
Pipis Family Donacidae All species in this family
Mangrove worms  Teredo spp
Beach worms Family Onuphidae All species in this family
Eels Family Anguilidae All species 
Marine yabbies (nippers)  Callianassa spp
Mud crabs   Scylla serrata
Blue swimmer crabs  Portunus pelagicus
Spanner crabs  Ranina ranina
Sea lettuce  Ulva lactuca
Bait weed  Enteromorpha intestinalis
Oysters  Saccostrea & Crassostera species
Turban shell (Googoombull) Family Turbinidae Turbo species
Abalone  Haliotis species
Periwinkles  Austrocochlea spp.

Species that are protected throughout the Marine Park

Common nameClass/Family/OrderSpecies

Corals

  • Soft corals and gorgonians
  • Hard corals
  • Black corals

Class Anthozoa

  • Subclass Octocorallia
  • Order Scleractinia
  • Order Antipatharia
 
Sea anemones Order Actinaria  
Zoanthids Order Zoanthidea  
Corallimorphs Order Corallimorpharia  
All pipefishes and seahorses Family Syngnathidae  
Giant clam Family Tridacnidae  
Broad-banded anemone fish  Amphiprion latezonatus

Other management actions