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The Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area
The Torres Strait became a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area in July 2005, following submissions made to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments. Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) are areas of the marine environment that need special protection through action by IMO because of significance for recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes where such attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities.
Two associated protective measures were approved by IMO for application in the Torres Strait – a new two way shipping route and an extension of the system of pilotage that had applied in the Great Barrier Reef since 1990. These measures were selected to improve the safety of navigation in an area where freedom of movement of shipping is considerably inhibited by restricted sea-room, and where there are obstructions to navigation, limited depths and potentially unfavourable meteorological conditions.