Great Australian Bight Marine Park
IntroductionThe Great Australian Bight (GAB) extends over 1,200 km from Cape Pasley in Western Australia to Cape Catastrophe at the entrance of Spencer Gulf in South Australia.
The area consists of spectacular cliffs and rocky headlands, numerous offshore islands, surf pounded beaches and large sheltered embayments. The region contains not only some of the most remote, uninhabited and spectacular coastal wilderness regions of Australia, but also contains some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity. The GAB is a region of major scientific interest and an area of global conservation significance for species of rare and endangered marine life, including the southern right whale, the Australian sea-lion and the great-white shark. The GAB is also of oceanographic importance because its waters are transitional between warm and cold - linking the Indian and Pacific oceans. It also has the longest ice-free east-west extent of coastline in the southern hemisphere.
The Great Australian Bight region provides significant seasonal habitat for the southern right whale, with the Head of Bight one of the two most important calving sites in the world. For more information on southern right whales in South Australia, please refer to our southern right whale page, or download the following brochures: Southern
Right Whales in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (400Kb
PDF) The Australian sea lion breeds in colonies at the base of the Bunda Cliffs, which support the only colony of Australian sea lion breeding on the mainland of Australia.
LocationThe Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP) is located in both South Australian and Commonwealth waters off the far west coast of South Australia. The establishment of the GABMP began with the proclamation of a Whale Sanctuary (around 43,000 ha) within state waters in June 1995. The South Australian Government then extended the protected area by an additional 124,000 ha with the establishment of an adjacent marine national park in 1996. In 1998, the Australian Government came on board to establish its own protected area in Commonwealth waters (outside the 3 nautical mile state limit), with 1.9 million ha of marine park. Whilst the total area of the GABMP is managed in coordination between the South Australian and Australian Governments, both the State and Commonwealth sections of the marine park have their own management plans. South Australian Government: The
Great Australian Bight Marine Park Management Plan Part A - Management
Prescriptions (350Kb PDF) Australian Government: GABMP Commonwealth Management Plan
As well as being an area of ecological significance, the Great Australian Bight is also important for its economic value. Through multiple use management plans, the GABMP provides for different levels of resource extractive activities (such as fisheries and petroleum exploration). Consequently, some activities are restricted to certain areas, at certain times of the year. It is important that commercial activities in the marine park are conducted in an ecologically sustainable way and on a sound scientific basis. To ensure that the use of marine resources in the park is sustainable and consistent with the objectives of the park management plans, the park is managed in cooperation with both industry and the community. Commercial and resource extractive activities are still managed by their relevant agencies, for example fishing effort is managed by PIRSA Fisheries.
Legislation and ManagementRelevant South Australian legislation are the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The Commonwealth waters of the marine park are managed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The relevant Acts contain penalties for offences such as entering prohibited areas or conducting prohibited activities within the Park. Multiple UseThe GABMP is a multiple use marine park, comprising two adjoining marine parks. The park is termed 'multiple use' because it allows a combination of uses, such as conservation and resource extractive activities (for example commercial and recreational fishing). The Marine Park does this by establishing different zones with different rules to protect specific species. These zones are: Sanctuary Zone (State)
Conservation Zone (State)
All boating and commercial fishing activity allowed at other times. Marine Mammal Protection Zone (Commonwealth)
All boating and commercial fishing activity allowed at other times, except trawling. Benthic Protection Zone (Commonwealth)
* includes mining, bio-prospecting, commercial fishing, recreational fishing from boats, mining activities etc
Beach based recreational fishing can only take place in the sanctuary zone of the Park and any boating activity must conform to the zoning conditions. The normal state regulations under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 still apply in relation to legal lengths, catch limits, permitted gear, and any other conditions. Boundary and zoning information is provided on the Park map. The table on the map outlines activities permitted and prohibited within the zones. If you visit the Park you should be aware of the boundaries, including the zones, and of prohibited activities and seasonal closures. State and Commonwealth legislation protects mammals, birds, and reptiles both inside and outside the Park.
PublicationsFurther information relating to the GABMP can be sourced form the 'Description of Values and Uses' document. This document is considered a living document (permanently in draft) which will be updated as new information is received. It is a document managed by the Australian Government to provide the latest information relevant to the GABMP. LinksFindings of the Review of the GABMP Management Plans Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/ Listed Species and Ecological Community Permits (EPBC Act - Australian
Government) Notification of activities affecting listed species or ecological communities
in or on a Commonwealth area (EPBC Act - Australian Government) Cetacean Permits (EPBC Act - Australian Government) Further InformationFor further information on the Great Australian Bight Marine Park, please contact: Manager, Great Australian Bight Marine Park phone (61 8) 8688 3172 Ceduna office, phone (61 8) 8625 3144 Port Lincoln office, phone (61 8) 8688 3111 |
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