Over 600,000 hectares of Kimberley coastline will be protected after the announcement of three new marine parks by the WA Government. 

 

The marine parks will be established in the Buccaneer Archipelago – a collection of 1,000 islands – the coastline around the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome, and land and coast north of Derby. 

Working With Traditional Custodians

It’s the first time that marine parks have been co-designed and will be jointly managed by both the Traditional Custodians and WA’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions.

‘The sea country we are protecting with the creation of these three marine parks is ensuring that cultural practices that have existed for thousands of years remain protected,’ said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti.

The creation of the parks comes after an extensive consultation and planning process with the Traditional Custodians.

‘It helps us as Traditional Owners to continue our life in our traditional customary way, to look after the resources that looked after us, to look after the environment that looked after us,’ said Bardi Jawi Niimidiman Aboriginal Corporation Chair Kevin George.

The three parks will be known as Bardi Jawi Gaarra, Mayala, and Maiyalam marine parks and will now protect a diversity of marine species. 

‘This region is home to an array of unique corals, whales and dugongs that feed here. The natural and cultural significance of these areas is astounding,’ Environment Minister Reece Whitby said.

Millions More to Come

The announcement comes as part of the WA Government’s ‘Plans For Our Parks’ initiative, which aims to create 5 million hectares of marine and national parks and other conservation areas over a five-year period. The creation of these three parks marks the first million hectares now under conservation.

‘My Government has now established over a million hectares of new conservation estates as we work to protect these unique environments for generations to come,’ said Premier Mark McGowan. 

What an achievement WA! We love to see it!

 

Feature photo supplied by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions