The Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2010 - Marine, provides both spatial and text information about off-shore protected areas in both state and commonwealth waters. State and Territory conservation agencies supplied data current for 2010. This is the eighth version of the CAPAD database, with previous versions released in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. CAPAD provides a snapshot of protected areas that meet the IUCN definition of a protected area:"A protected area is an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means" (IUCN 1994).The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DSEWPaC) publishes a summary of the CAPAD data biennially on https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad.Main attributes in the database include:NAME: the name of the protected area.TYPE: the type of protected area according to the protected area establishment mechanism.TYPE_ABBR: the abbreviation of the TYPE.TYPE abbreviations include:AQR = Aquatic ReserveCMR = Commonwealth Marine ReserveDPAA = Dugong Protection Area (A)DPAB = Dugong Protection Area (B)DS = Dolphin SanctuaryFHAA = Fish Habitat Area (A)FHAB = Fish Habitat Area (B)FHPA = Fish Habitat Protection AreaLS = Lobster SanctuaryMAR = Marine ReserveMCA = Marine Conservation AreaMMA = Marine Management AreaMNNR = Marine National Nature ReserveMNP = Marine National ParkMNR = Marine Nature ReserveMP = Marine ParkMR = Marine ReserveMS = Marine SanctuaryNNR = National Nature ReserveNP = National ParkNR = Nature ReserveSH = Shipwreck ReserveIUCN: the IUCN protected area management category ascribed by the Managing authority, as outlined in the publication: CNPPA/WCMC "Guidelines for Protected Area management categories". Gland: IUCN, 1994. (ISBN: 2-8317-0201-1).Definitions include:IA Strict Nature Reserve: managed mainly for science;IB Wilderness Area: managed mainly for wilderness protection;II National Park: managed mainly for ecosystem protection;III Natural Monument: managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features;IV Habitat / Species Management Area: managed mainly for conservation through management intervention;V Protected Landscape / Seascape: managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation;VI Managed Resource Protected Area: managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.GAZ_AREA: area in hectares as described in the nomination document (e.g. parliamentary gazettal), to the nearest hectare. Some protected areas do not have a specific area in the designation.GIS_AREA: area in hectares based on current spatial data and an Albers equal area projection for Australia.GAZ_DATE: the first gazettal or proclamation date that established any protected area at this site.LATEST_GAZ: the date of the most recent gazettal or proclamation to add land to the protected area. It can be the same date as the GAZ_DATE.NRS_PA: This attribute indicates the status of the protected area as part of the National Reserve System (NRS). "Y" = a protected area located within the State and Territory jurisdiction. "X" = a protected area located within an Australian external territory (e.g. Christmas Island). "I" = an interim protected area - in the process of being gazetted/established. "N" = a protected area that does not meet the NRS criteria.STATE: The state is the state that the protected area is located in. COM = protected areas located in Commonwealth Waters.AUTHORITY: The Authority responsible for the management of the protected area mechanism.AUTHORITY abbreviations include:DSEWPaC = Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterGBRMPA = Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityNSW_DPI = NSW Department of Primary IndustriesNSW_MPA = NSW Marine Park AuthorityNT_PWS = NT Parks and Wildlife ServicePIRSA = Primary Industries and Resources SAQLD_DEEDI = QLD Department of Employment, Economic Development and InnovationQLD_DERM = QLD Department of Environment and Resource ManagementQLD_DPIF = QLD Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestrySA_DENR = SA Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesTAS_PWS = Tasmania Parks & Wildlife ServiceVIC_DSE = VIC Department of Sustainability and EnvironmentWA_DEC = WA Department of Environment and ConservationWA_DOF = WA Department of FisheriesDATASOURCE: Describes the source of the data for the protected area, values are:DATA SOURCE abbreviations include:DSEWPaC = Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterGBRMPA = Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityNSW_DPI = NSW Department of Primary IndustriesNT_PWS = NT Parks and Wildlife ServicePIRSA = Primary Industries and Resources SAQLD_DEEDI = QLD Department of Employment, Economic Development and InnovationQLD_DERM = QLD Department of Environment and Resource ManagementQLD_DPIF = QLD Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestrySA_DEH = SA Department of Environment and HeritageSA_DENR = SA Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesTAS_PWS = Tasmania Parks & Wildlife ServiceVIC_DSE = VIC Department of Sustainability and EnvironmentWA_DEC = Western Australia Department of Environment and ConservationWA_DOF = WA Department of FisheriesGOVERNANCE: Determines if the protected area is government, Indigenous, joint or privately managed.ENVIRON: Protected areas in the Marine CAPAD dataset are classified as 'M'. Marine components of terrestrial parks are included in CAPAD (terrestrial) as Environ= 'B' (Both).X_COORD: is the longitude in decimal degrees east within the object closest to the centre of the object using the Geodetic Datum of Australia 1994.Y_COORD: is the latitude in decimal degrees south within the object closest to the centre of the object using the Geodetic Datum of Australia 1994.OBJECTID , Shape , SHAPE.AREA and SHAPE.LEN are automatically generated ESRI attributesCredit:The data is supplied to the Commonwealth for compilation by States and Territories of Australia, as well as a number of large environmental NGOs. Custodianship rests with the source agencies.
