Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Marine Park at low tide, WA. Photo: B. Dennis, Lochman Transparencies

Halfway along the West Australian coastline, just 1200km north of Perth lies Ningaloo a fringing coral reef off a limestone, peninsular (Cape Range). The reef at Ningaloo is the longest (280 km) western fringing coral reef in Australia and one of the last healthy major coral reef systems of its type in the world. Together, the limestone cape and coral reef are home to incredible biodiversity, including turtles, manta rays, dugong and whale sharks.

With the support of tens of thousands of people from around the world the ‘Save Ningaloo’ campaign stopped a large marina resort from being built in 2003.

How much of Ningaloo is protected?

In 2004, the State Government extended Ningaloo Marine Park to cover the entire 300km length of Ningaloo Reef.

Although Marine Parks offer some protection for the marine environment, it’s the sanctuary zones within the marine parks that provide the real protection from mining, fishing or any other destructive or extractive activities.

As 34% of the Ningaloo Marine Park has total protection in sanctuary zones, it is the fourth best protected marine park in Western Australia. At the World Parks Congress, scientists recommended a minimum 20-30% of the marine environment by allocated as sanctuary zones.

What about World Heritage Listing?

Whale Shark and juvenile jacks. Photo: G. Taylor, Lochman Transparencies

There have been proposals for Ningaloo Reef to be World Heritage listed.  World heritage listing would cover both the Ningaloo National Marine Park and the Cape Range National Park and is currently being considered by the State Government.  Only the Federal Government, however, can put forward a formal submission for World Heritage listing.

The Wilderness Society has urged the State Government to expand its proposal to fast-track nomination for World Heritage Listing for Ningaloo Reef to include critical areas of adjoining waters and land.

Lessons from other fringing reefs in Australia and overseas highlight the crucial need to ensure that land-based developments are adequately controlled.  Land base development includes urban development and accompanying pollution, run-off from agriculture, mining activities, interference with water flows and unsustainable levels of tourism. Land based development and the necessary infrastructure can lead to irreparable damage to reef systems.