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Arafura Commonwealth Marine Reserve
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.
| Name | Arafura Commonwealth Marine Reserve |
|---|---|
| Area | 22 924 km2 |
| Depth range | 5-250 m (approx.) |
| Types of zoning |
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Major conservation values
- Important resting area for turtles between egg laying (internesting area), for the threatened:
- flatback turtle
- green turtle
- hawksbill turtle
- olive ridley turtle
- Important foraging habitat for breeding aggregations of the migratory roseate tern
- Examples of the ecosystems of two provincial bioregions: the Northern Shelf Province (which includes the Arafura and Cobourg meso-scale bioregions) and the Timor Transition Province
- Includes one key ecological feature:
- Tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression (unique sea-floor feature)
Download reserve fact sheet
- Fact sheet - Arafura Commonwealth Marine Reserve (PDF - 73 KB) | (Word - 358 KB)
GREEN TURTLES
The Arafura Commonwealth Marine Reserve includes important resting area for turtles between egg laying.
Green turtle
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