New marine park to be created in South-West WA

Bill Marmion Environment Minister

A new marine park named Ngari Capes Marine Park is to be created by the State Government. It will cover approximately 124,000ha and extend from Geographe Bay near Busselton to Augusta, including the waters between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. The park has one of the most diverse temperate marine environments in Australia, with warm tropical waters of the Leeuwin Current mingling with the cool waters of the Capes Current. The park will preserve and protect important marine habitats and some of the South-West’s top surfing locations. It will balance both recreational pursuits and the protection of important marine life by classifying areas into different zones.

In announcing the decision to create the Ngari Capes Marine Park, the Premier Colin Barnett said: “The creation of this marine park will help conserve one of Western Australia’s most remarkable marine areas. It is one of the State’s most popular tourism destinations – the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park adjoining the marine park receives more than two million visits annually, and is the most popular national park in WA.”

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the establishment of the Ngari Capes Marine Park formed part of a State-wide initiative to enhance conservation of WA’s marine environments through the creation of six marine parks – four in the Kimberley, one in Dampier Archipelago and Ngari Capes. “The vast majority of the park will be available for fishing, swimming, diving, snorkelling, boating, sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, water-skiing and sea kayaking. Special areas of the park will be set aside for conservation as well as for specific uses such as surfing and shore-based activities, recognising their particular importance.”

Mr Marmion said 15 sanctuary zones would be formed to protect breeding grounds for fish, but 93 per cent of the coastline would still remain open for recreational fishing. For more information on the creation of the Ngari Capes Marine Park visit www.dec.wa.gov.au