Shark Bay Marine Park
Marine protected area in Western Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Shark Bay Marine Park is a protected marine park located within the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Shark Bay, in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The 748,725-hectare (1,850,140-acre)[1] marine park is situated over 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of Perth and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Geraldton.[3][4]
| Shark Bay Marine Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
A dolphin at Monkey Mia in the marine park | |
  Shark Bay Marine Park Location within Western Australia | |
| Location | Western Australia |
| Nearest city | Denham |
| Coordinates | 25°48′S 113°45′E |
| Area | 7,487.25 km2 (2,890.84 sq mi)[1] |
| Established | 30 November 1990[2] |
| Governing body | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions |
| Website | Official website |
The marine park is known for its large marine animals, such as the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, turtles, dugongs and sharks. The park and its vast seagrass meadows, with a total of twelve species of seagrass in the park, form an important part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.[5][6]
Major reference points of its boundaries include Steep Point at the south side of Dirk Hartog Island and Cape Inscription at the north side.[citation needed]
Fishing
Fishing in the marine park are governed by the Gascoyne Fishing Rules[3] that specify the waters and species[7] of the Shark Bay area, also known as the Shark Bay Inner Gulfs:
- Eastern Gulf Zone: the region located east of the Peron Peninsula and north from Cape Peron North (25°30.2′S 113°30.6′E to a line at 25°16.6'S) and east to the coast of the mainland. Fishing is not permitted in the southern portion of this zone, the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve.
- Denham Sound: the region also known as the Western Gulf Zone, south to line at Goulet Bluff (25°13’S) which separates the Freycinet Estuary.
