A massive new marine park looks set to be created at Western Australia’s iconic Eighty Mile Beach.
The state government says the plan will provide higher levels of protection for marine biodiversity while allowing recreational activities and `sustainable’ commercial fishing. Eighty Mile Beach, which lies between Broome and Port Headland, is a ‘must-stop’ destination for grey nomads and is popular for beach fishing, camping and four-wheel driving.
The new marine park would cover an area of about 209,000 hectares of coast, stretching from the south-west to the north-east of the state and encompassing all of Eighty Mile Beach, protecting migratory shorebirds and unique marine life. while promoting collaborative management with traditional owners. The park is one of four proposed new marine parks to be considered as a part of the new Kimberley Wilderness Parks, a key component of the state government’s major conservation strategy for the Kimberley.
Marine parks would also be created at Camden Sound, Roebuck Bay and the North Kimberley.
Together, the four new parks would nearly triple the total area of marine parks and reserves in WA coastal waters and would also protect the largest Humpback whale calving area in the southern hemisphere.
“The proposed Eighty Mile Beach marine park will provide protection for a unique and spectacular part of the lower west Kimberley coastline,” WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion told the ABC. “As well as providing for sustainable tourism use and enjoyment of the area and the maintenance of Aboriginal culture and heritage.”
Pew Environment Group Kimberley manager John Carey said the proposal was ‘a big improvement on the previous plan’, which was criticised for allowing oil and gas exploration and commercial fishing.
“This is a good start for the Kimberley marine park program,” Mr Carey told the ABC. “It does set a reasonable benchmark in terms of sanctuary zones.”
The period for public comment closes at 5pm on January 20, 2012.
