For the first time in Western Australia, the government has created three new marine parks in collaboration with First Nations people. The new marine parks, Mayala, Maiyalam, and Bardi Jawi Gaara, make up 600,000 hectares of sea country. They’re located in Western Australia’s remote Buccaneer Archipelago.
Where are the new parks?
Just under 2000 kilometres north of Perth, you’ll find Mayala, Maiyalam, and Bardi Jawi Gaara national parks. They are the first parks in Australia that feature cultural zones and joint-vesting. In looking after these parks, there’s a huge emphasis on drawing on First Nations culture and knowledge in conservation.
Co-managed
These 3 new marine parks will be co-managed with the state, using traditional Aboriginal knowledge and modern environmental practices. The parks will have Indigenous rangers who are trained to control fires, monitor biodiversity and protect cultural sites. They will also be teaching Indigenous land management skills as well as educating tourists about the Aboriginal heritage of the land.
The Pew Charitable Trusts Australia Program Deputy Director Tim Nicol said “These new marine parks recognise the strong connections that Traditional Owners have with their sea Country. For the first time, Traditional Owners have co-designed a marine park including its zoning and will be joint owners of the marine parks on their sea country through joint vesting.”
You can still throw a line in
Recreational fishermen need not worry. The marine parks include areas that have been left open to allow for recreational fishing. You can continue to throw a line in and reel in some tucker as long as you’re outside of the restricted zones.
Why are some areas restricted? The parks protect a key nursing area for humpback whales. The area is an oasis for humpback whales, as well as dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles. Within the regions are coral lagoons, seagrass meadows, and deep-water canyons that surround the islands.
