In the protection zones, activities that may cause cable damage are prohibited or restricted. Some prohibitions and restrictions will be particularly relevant to commercial fisheries, such as those relating to demersal longlining, trawl fishing and anchoring.
The protection zones will come into effect on 1 October 2007 as follows:
* the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; extending from Narrabeen beach to 40 nautical miles offshore covering northern branches of the Australia Japan Cable and Southern Cross Cable, including the area between these two cables; and
* the Southern Sydney Protection Zone; extending from Tamarama and Clovelly beaches and extending 30 nautical miles offshore covering the southern branches of the Australia Japan Cable and Southern Cross Cable, including the area between these two cables.
It is an offence to engage in a prohibited activity or contravene a restriction in a protection zone, or, to damage a submarine cable. Penalties for contravention include fines of up to $66,000 for an individual (or up to $330,000 for a corporation) and/or ten years imprisonment for an individual. Persons who damage cables may also be liable for civil damages.
Further information about the zones, including copies of the Declarations and Explanatory Statements, a complete list of prohibitions and restrictions, location information (geographic coordinates and GIS shape files) and maps are available on the ACMA website (www.acma.gov.au/subcables) or by calling 1300 856 337. 
