Marine Park mania - Why do we need marine parks?

To protect unique marine environments

Western Australia’s coastline spans more than 13,500 kilometres and is home to some of the most amazing marine life in the world. Marine parks protect these unique marine and coastal environments and the animals and plants that live within them. For example, marine parks protect the beautiful coral reef environments of Ningaloo Marine Park, the pristine coral reef atolls at the Rowley Shoals Marine Park, the seagrass meadows of Shark Bay Marine Park and surround many islands along the coast that are important breeding and feeding grounds for sea lions, seabirds, turtles and penguins.

For future generations

Some human activities can pollute, degrade and deplete the marine environment and put the survival of many marine animals at risk. Marine parks help to protect the marine environment so that our generation and future generations have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy marine ecosystem, with the full range of different marine animals, plants and habitats that live in it today.

To provide opportunities for people

• Marine parks create recreational opportunities for people and a chance to enjoy the marine environment.
• Marine parks play an important role in scientific research and educating students and the general public about marine conservation, marine ecology and marine park management.
• Marine parks protect culturally significant sites and maritime heritage such as historic shipwrecks and artefacts.
• Marine parks help to protect assets important to commercial and recreational fishers, such as schooling sites, nursery areas, spawning and breeding grounds.
• Marine parks support a growing marine ecotourism market like whale watching, sea lion, dolphin and dugong viewing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and glass bottomed boats.