About the North Marine Region

About the North Marine Region

The North Marine Region stretches from the Western Australian - Northern Territory border to Cape York in Queensland. It extends across tropical environments and includes only Commonwealth waters - the area of Australian jurisdiction that starts outside Northern Territory and Queensland waters (usually 3 nautical miles or 5.5 kilometres from the coast) and extends to the outer limits of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone some 200 nautical miles from the shore.

The North Marine Region is tropical, mostly very shallow, and mostly very low in nutrients. Water temperatures are naturally among the highest in Australian waters and are high by global standards. While there are few marine species that are unique to the region, it is home to globally significant populations of internationally threatened species such as turtles, dugong and sawfish.

The region is dominated by monsoonal climactic patterns characterised by a pronounced wet season between December and March and generally dry conditions for the remainder of the year. The monsoonal weather pattern is a major driver of important ecological processes in the marine environment, particularly in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The interplay between predominantly dry south-east trade winds from May to October and moister north-westerlies over the wet season (December to March) contributes to a slow, clockwise movement of water in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Tropical cyclones are a dominant feature in the wet season. Large influxes of freshwater from the rivers and land during the wet season have a very important influence on the health and productivity of the North Marine Region. Many protected species and species that are harvested by people (such as prawns and mud crabs) are also strongly influenced by freshwater run-off.

Map of the North Marine Region

Source: ERIN

Background

The North Bioregional Profile, released in November 2008, is the starting point for developing a Marine Bioregional Plan for the North Marine Region. The Profile brings together, for the first time, the best available information on the marine environment of the region. It focuses on natural assets, and it describes the ecological characteristics, conservation values, and the human activities that take place in the region. The Profile also explains how new marine reserves will be identified. A number of information resources were developed to prepare the bioregional profile.

In September 2009, Areas for Further Assessment were identified in the North Marine Region. Areas for Further Assessment are large marine areas which encompass a wide range of habitats, features and conservation values. Areas for Further Assessment are not the proposed boundaries for new marine reserves. They are areas that were identified to aid detailed analysis of information and assist in the design of new marine reserves.

A draft Marine Bioregional Plan and Commonwealth marine reserves network proposal for the North Marine Region were released in August 2011 for a 90 day public consultation period which closed on the 28th November 2011.

A range of documents and information resources were developed which supported the public consultation period.

• Consultation documents and supporting resources

Submissions received are currently being considered, and the draft Plan and Commonwealth marine reserves network proposal may be altered in response to information provided through the formal consultation period. Public submissions will be made available on this website, unless the department agrees to an author's specific request for their submission to remain confidential.

Contact

The Director
Tropical North Marine Conservation
Marine Division
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
or
Email: North.MarinePlan@environment.gov.au