North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

Overview

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS

Transitional arrangements for new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until management plans come into effect in July 2014, transitional arrangements apply.

Under the transitional arrangements, there are NO CHANGES ON THE WATER for users of new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserves estate.
NOTE: There are no changes to management arrangements in the marine reserves that existed prior to the establishment of the new reserves, that is, the same restrictions on activities will continue to apply even where those reserves have been incorporated into new reserves.

Summary

Name	North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network
Network area	335 437 km²
Depth range	15 - 5000 m
Reserves	13 reserves (ranging in size from 304 to 146 000 km²) Carnarvon Canyon Commonwealth Marine Reserve Shark Bay Commonwealth Marine Reserve Gascoyne Commonwealth Marine Reserve Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve Montebello Commonwealth Marine Reserve Dampier Commonwealth Marine Reserve Eighty Mile Beach Commonwealth Marine Reserve Argo-Rowley Terrace Commonwealth Marine Reserve Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve Roebuck Commonwealth Marine Reserve Kimberley Commonwealth Marine Reserve Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Types of zoning	Sanctuary Zone (IUCN Category Ia) -1262 km² or 0.38% of the network Marine National Park Zone (IUCN Category II) - 103,082 km² or 30.73% of the network Recreational Use Zone (IUCN Category II) - 2,469 or 0.74% of the network Habitat Protection Zone (IUCN Category IV) - 17 682 km² or 5.27% of the network Multiple Use Zone (IUCN Category VI) - 209 841 km² or 62.56% of the network Special Use Zone (Ports) (IUCN Category VI) - 1102 km² or 0.32% of the network

Key conservation values

Seasonal calving habitat for the world's largest population of the humpback whale
Foraging and inter-nesting habitat for olive ridley, green, flatback, loggerhead and hawksbill marine turtles
Foraging habitat for the whale shark, several species of sea snake, sawfish and for several species of migratory seabirds
Biologically-important areas for several whale species, including the Australian snubfin dolphin and humpback whales
Protection for coral reefs in Commonwealth waters adjacent to the Kimberley with additional protection for Rowley Shoals and Ningaloo reefs
Eight key ecological features are included, fully or in part, in the marine reserve network
Eight provincial bioregions, nine meso-scale bioregions, 81 depth ranges within provincial bioregions, and 15 seafloor types represented in the network.

Download network fact sheet

Fact sheet - North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network (PDF - 160 KB) | (Word - 166 KB)

HUMPBACK WHALE
The North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network includes seasonal calving habitat for the world's largest population of the humpback whale.

Commonwealth marine reserves

North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

Overview

Summary

Key conservation values

Download network fact sheet

Marine reserves

South-west

North-west

North

Coral Sea

Temperate East

South-east

Marine bioregional plans