North Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network
Overview
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until management plans come into effect in July 2014, transitional arrangements apply.
- Under the transitional arrangements, there are NO CHANGES ON THE WATER for users of new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserves estate.
- NOTE: There are no changes to management arrangements in the marine reserves that existed prior to the establishment of the new reserves, that is, the same restrictions on activities will continue to apply even where those reserves have been incorporated into new reserves.
Summary
| Name | North Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network |
|---|---|
| Network area | 157 483 km2 |
| Depth range | 0 - 500 m |
| Number of reserves | 8 reserves (ranging in size from 1399 to 71 483 km2)
|
| Types of zoning |
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Key conservation values
- Important nesting and resting area for threatened marine turtle species including flatback, hawksbill, green and olive ridley turtles
- Important foraging area for breeding colonies of migratory seabirds
- Important foraging area for large aggregations of dugongs
- Nine key ecological features of the North marine region including submerged coral reefs, the Gulf of Carpentaria basin, and the carbonate banks, terraces and pinnacles of the Timor Sea are represented in the network
- Four provincial bioregions, 14 meso-scale bioregions, 22 depth ranges within provincial bioregions, and 15 seafloor types are represented in the network.