Benefits
Preserving WA’s incredible South Coast
The South Coast Marine Park offers world-class protection for marine life, fragile coastal ecosystems, mammals, birds and fish, while preserving the cultural and community values of Australia's most beautiful coast.
Header photo credit: Andy McGregor, Middle Island
Photo credit: Andy McGregor, Salisbury Island
Protecting and preserving
The SCMP will provide a safe haven for some of the most endangered and iconic marine animals in the world, such as the southern right whale and the Australian sea lion.
These species are under threat from human activities, such as fishing, boating and coastal activities that can disturb their breeding grounds, entangle them in nets and ropes, or reduce their food sources.
The SCMP will create no-take zones and sanctuary areas where these animals can breed, nurture their young, and recover their populations.
By protecting the fauna of the South Coast, we are also protecting the health and balance of the whole ecosystem, which benefits all users and visitors.
Photo credit: Jenevieve Carey, West Beach
Applying the science
When ocean areas are preserved, species recover — and that's good for everyone.
The SCMP will reserve 25% as no-take zones for commercial fishing, focusing these protective sanctuaries on locations that are highly biodiverse and have significant ecological importance.
Australia’s marine parks have been studied in great detail and the science is clear: no-take reserves accelerate species recovery, which is good for fishers, fishing communities, and the environment.
Australian research shows one hectare of ocean in which fishing is not allowed produces at least five times the amount of fish as an equivalent unprotected hectare.
Fish in no-take areas grow on average 25% larger and can produce as many as three times the offspring as fish in other waters.
The dispersal of no-take zones across the SCMP allows the preservation of the most critical and fragile area while ensuring the future of fishing for years to come.
SeaLorraine Island, Tjaltjraak Rangers Zoe Bullen Hayleigh Graham
Rising tide of opportunity
New marine parks present new opportunities – both in and out of the water.
Marine parks safeguard the values that support nature-based recreation and tourism, by protecting flora and fauna and reducing the interaction with extractive industry.
By allowing different kinds of commercial uses beyond industrial scale fishing, they deliver diverse opportunities for local communities.
Ningaloo Marine Park, for example, contributes an estimated $110 million to the economy and supports more than 1000 jobs, boasting a 90 per cent contribution to the local economy.
The SCMP will support sustainable tourism and elevate the profile of communities from Bremmer Bay to Esperance with visitors from around the world.
It will also support the good work already being done by local governments and Traditional Owner groups across the region to diversify economies and develop more sustainable industry.
Most importantly, it will protect and preserve the natural assets that matter most to our coastal community. People live by the South Coast because they love and want to enjoy all our unique coastal and marine environment has to offer.
This management plan is an historic step towards ensuring that is the case now — and into the future.
Balancing interests
The SCMP Draft Management Plan is the result of years of consultation and collaboration between Traditional Owners, government, commercial and recreational fishers, tourism operators, conservation groups, and local communities.
The Draft Management Plan reflects a balance that protects the immediate commercial interests of different stakeholders, ensures people can still do the things they love on our coast, but also prioritises the future protection of the marine environment.
It will create protective corridors for species and connect existing reserves established by the Commonwealth, while maintaining access for commercial and recreational fishers across 75% across more than 1000km of coastline.
Shore fishing from the beach will continue to be permitted in about 78% of the marine park and there is no change to areas where driving, camping or having a campfire on the beach is currently allowed.
Under the careful management of Traditional Owners and the DBCA, sustainable tourism and recreation activities can thrive, such as whale watching, diving, kayaking, camping and cultural experiences.
Caring for country
The SCMP Draft Management Plan recognises the rights and responsibilities of Traditional Owner groups to care for Country, on land and sea.
The Traditional Owner groups of the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar, Wudjari and Mirning people will each jointly manage one of the connected marine parks, alongside the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The arrangement ensures Traditional Owners, who have lived by the South Coast for thousands of years caring for Country, have a strong role in the decision-making and implementation of the management plan.
The marine park will also respect and protect the cultural and spiritual values of the Traditional Owners, and their connection to the land and sea.
It will create new opportunities to share the knowledge and stories with visitors, and to create meaningful jobs and enterprises as a legacy for the future.
