Our Kimberley marine environment – a threatened species refuge

Rare Snubfin dolphin on the Kimberley Coast near James Price Point, Photograph: Simon Allen

There are few marine and coastal environments left on Earth that are as ecologically intact and stunningly beautiful as the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia.

Yet presently less than 1% of our Kimberley marine environment is protected from extraction by the oil and gas industry, over-fishing and trawling.

The Kimberley is one of the last remaining large and healthy refuges in the world for many threatened and endangered marine species: Dugongs, turtles, dolphins and numerous species of whales abound. It remains the calving and nursery grounds of the largest humpback whale population in the world (20,000 individuals).

This marine region covers a vast area extending from Eighty Mile Beach in WA’s north east to the Northern Territory border. At 630,000 km² - almost three times the size of Victoria - this enormous seascape contains coastal waters controlled by the Western Australian government and offshore waters controlled by the Commonwealth Government.

Both governments are proposing marine sanctuaries for the region. Currently neither proposal will ensure the long term protection of the Kimberley marine environment. That’s why we need your help

The Kimberley coast

Four new marine parks are slated in coastal waters: Camden Sound, Eighty mile beach, Roebuck bay and across the Northern Kimberley. As part of an alliance with other environment groups, ‘like no where else’. The Wilderness Society is working to ensure that these parks are located in the right places, protect the most important spawning and breeding grounds and exclude all destructive activities.

Surveying on Montgomery Reef, photo Jenita Enevoldsen.

However, the WA government is also aiding plans for a massive gas hub development at James Price Point 60 km north of Broome.

If it proceeds the Hub will create a 50km² marine dead zone along a heritage listed coastline, where healthy populations of threatened species reside, and facilitate the industrialisation of the entire Kimberley region.

Ecotourism in this region has the potential to produce a higher, more sustainable economic return for the region that oil and gas*.

*Curtin Sustainable Tourism Centre. 2010 Kimberley Whale coast tourism: Opportunities and Threats

Our Tropical Sealife

Our tropical North West seas are far from where most Australians live – they are ruled by huge tides (up to 14m) and dominated by ancient coral reefs (240 million yrs old) which create refuges for threatened and endangered species. Yet less than 1% are fully protected.

The Save Our Tropical Sealife alliance has been formed, to increase marine sanctuaries for this vast region. A report called the ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ highlights 15 iconic areas of this unique and unprotected region that deserve protection.

For more information on the alliance: www.saveourtropicalsealife.org.au