THE West Australian Government has announced the creation of a new marine park in the state’s south west.
Over the weekend at Yallingup, Premier Colin Barnett and Environment Minister Bill Marmion announced the Government’s decision to create the Ngari Capes Marine Park.
The marine park will cover about 124,000ha and extend from Geographe Bay near Busselton to Augusta, including the waters between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.
Marmion has said that 15 sanctuary zones would be formed within the park to protect breeding grounds for fish but 93 per cent of the coastline would still remain open for
recreational fishing.
“The creation of this marine park will help conserve one of Western Australia’s most remarkable marine areas,” Barnett said.
“It is also 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.”
Marmion said the establishment of the Ngari Capes Marine Park formed part of a statewide 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 this one.
“The vast majority of the park will be available for fishing, swimming, diving, snorkelling, boating, sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, water-skiing and sea kayaking.
In addition to the sanctuary zones, there will be:
- 10 special purpose zones (surfing)
- two special purpose zones (shore-based activities)
- two recreation zones
- a general use zone.
Ngari Capes Marine Park will be formally created this year, using Royalties for Regions funding, once all the necessary statutory steps to reserve the park are completed.
For more information visit www.dec.wa.gov.au
