Management of Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve (Ashmore) was declared on 16 August 1983 for the purpose of protecting its representative marine ecosystems and to facilitate scientific research. The majority of the reserve is assigned the IUCN category Ia – strict nature reserve, which means that it is a protected area managed mainly for science. The part of the reserve comprising West Island Lagoon and part of West Island is assigned the IUCN category II – National Park – a protected area managed mainly for ecosystem conservation and recreation.

Due to its remoteness, Ashmore receives very few visitors other than traditional Indonesian fishing vessels, recreational yachts, and Australian government vessels such as Royal Australian Navy and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs) vessels. Most of the reserve is closed to public access. Limited access is permitted to West Island lagoon and to a small part of West Island – see map. Commercial operators and researchers must apply to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for an approval to undertake these activities at Ashmore.

Customs provides day-to-day on-site management of Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve. Customs keep a fully-crewed boat, the Ashmore Guardian, stationed at the reserve for most of the year. The crew undertake monitoring and maintenance duties throughout the reserve and oversee visitor access. Cooperative arrangements with other government agencies complement the tasks performed by Customs and combine to produce a whole of government approach to the management of the entire region. The department works closely with agencies such as:

The most recent management plan for the reserve came into force on 26 June 2002. This management plan expired on 25 June 2009 and interim management arrangements apply until a new management plan is in place.

Working with other agencies to manage Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve.