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Marine Protected Areas

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Great Australian Bight

Whale tail, David Patton

Summary of Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)

Proclamation date 22 April 1998
Size (current) 1,939,500 Ha (19,395 km2)
IUCN category

Overall — IUCN Category VI. Includes two Zones as follows:

  • Marine Mammal Protection Zone — IUCN Category VI — 387,500 Ha (3,875 km2)
  • Benthic Protection Zone — IUCN Category VI — 1,608,500 Ha (16,085 km2)

NB Area of overlap of above Zones =56,500 Ha (565 km2)
Biogeographic context Protects part of the Eucla Bioregion of the IMCRA 3.3 mesoscale regionalisation;
alternatively part of the Great Australian Bight Biotone and the associated continental slope of the IMCRA 3.3 demersal provinces & biotones;
alternatively part of the Southern Pelagic Province of the IMCRA 3.3 pelagic provinces & biotones.
Management plan status Gazetted 16 May 2000
First plan expired 17 May 2005
Second plan in current until 2012
World heritage No
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