Comments Sought on Heard and McDonald Islands Management Plan

Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water

The Head of the Australian Antarctic Division, as delegate for the Director of National Parks, is inviting feedback on the Draft Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan.

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Marine Reserve is Australia's most remote Commonwealth marine reserve.

The reserve was expanded in January 2025. It now protects 380,631 square kilometres of land and sea, including the world-heritage listed islands and their territorial sea.

The previous Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan expired on 14 October 2024. The Australian Antarctic Division has worked closely with stakeholders to prepare a new draft.

Public consultation is now open. Feedback will help finalise the new management plan, which will guide how the reserve and its world and national-heritage listed property are managed over the next 10 years.

To provide feedback:

Protected Areas, Territories and Heritage Section

Australian Antarctic Division

PO Box 385

KINGSTON

TAS 7050

Consultation is open from Monday 28 September to 11.59 pm AEST on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

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