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Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve (renamed)
Overview
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for renamed marine reserves
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until new management plans come into effect in July 2014, there will be no changes to management arrangements for the renamed Commonwealth marine reserves that existed prior to the establishment of the new reserves. This includes Marine National Nature Reserves and Marine Parks, whether they continue to exist as discrete reserves or have been incorporated into larger new reserves.
- Transitional arrangements involve NO CHANGE ON THE WATER for marine users.
- If you hold an existing approval to undertake activities within the renamed Commonwealth marine reserves (Ashmore Reef, Cartier Island, Ningaloo and Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserves), you are able to continue to operate under the terms of your existing approval.
- No additional administrative requirements apply.
Cartier Island Marine Reserve has been renamed Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve and forms part of the North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network. Interim management arrangements apply until the management plan for the North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network comes into effect.
Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve is located 25 nautical miles (45 km) south-east of Ashmore Reef. Covering an area of 167 square kilometres, the reserve includes an unvegetated sand island (Cartier Island) and the area within a 4 nautical mile radius of the centre of the island, to a depth of 1 km below the sea floor. The area around the island includes a variety of habitats including a mature reef flat, a small submerged pinnacle, known as Wave Governor Bank and two shallow pools to the north-east of the island.
| Name | Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve (renamed) |
|---|---|
| Date of Proclamation | 21 June 2000, now renamed Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve |
| Area | 172 km2 |
| Types of zoning | IUCN Category Ia (172 km2) - Sanctuary zone |
Major conservation values
- Ecosystems, habitats and communities associated with:
- the North West Shelf
- Timor Province
- emergent oceanic reefs
- Cartier Island is an important area for protected species:
- internationally significant for its abundance and diversity of sea snakes
- large and significant feeding populations of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles occur around the reefs.
- supports some of the most important seabird rookeries on the North West Shelf including colonies of bridled terns, common noddies, brown boobies, eastern reef egrets, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, red-footed boobies, roseate terns, crested terns and lesser crested terns.
- important staging points/feeding areas for many migratory seabirds
- Cultural and heritage site:
- Ann Millicent historic shipwreck