MEDIA RELEASE

WA Government commitments for Exmouth Gulf marine park welcomed by Australian Marine Conservation Society – Protect Ningaloo 

• Protect Ningaloo welcomes WA Government’s commitment to create a marine park with high levels of protection across the whole of Exmouth Gulf that will be jointly managed with Traditional Owners.

• The Government has responded to Exmouth Gulf Taskforce recommendations with long-awaited measures that prioritise conservation.
  Protect Ningaloo now calls on Government to act with urgency on these commitments, as the region faces increasing stress from severe marine heatwaves and proposed industrial development.

• The Australian Marine Conservation Society, Protect Ningaloo campaign has welcomed the Western Australian Government’s announcement that it will create a marine park across the whole of Exmouth Gulf – one of Australia’s natural wonders – to protect it for future generations.

The commitment is a key part of the Government’s response to recommendations from the Exmouth Gulf Taskforce on the future protection and management of Exmouth Gulf. The Taskforce was established following the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s landmark assessment in 2021 that the Gulf needed conservation measures as a priority. The Taskforce made a number of key recommendations designed to safeguard the natural and cultural values of this globally significant environment, which also has strong ecological linkages to Ningaloo Reef.

Paul Gamblin, CEO of Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Director of Protect Ningaloo was a member of the Exmouth Gulf Taskforce and advocated for urgent protection for the whole of Exmouth Gulf, which is renowned for its resting humpback whale mothers and calves, dugongs, dolphins, rare sawfish, corals, sponge gardens, and more. Exmouth Gulf forms a crucial part of Ningaloo’s famed nature-based tourism economy.

“We strongly support this announcement and look forward to the establishment of a marine park that will be jointly managed with Nyinggulu Traditional Owners. We know the broad community in Exmouth and across WA will enthusiastically welcome the creation of a marine park across Exmouth Gulf and feel the same sense of deep pride in it as it does with the Ningaloo Marine Park.

“AMCS Protect Ningaloo has called for a whole-of-Gulf marine park for some years, and the need for a marine park is even more urgent following the devastating impacts from the 2024-25 severe marine heatwave on the Gulf’s corals and seagrass meadows. Marine conservation in an accelerating climate emergency requires serious efforts both to reduce carbon emissions and to manage direct pressures, to build resilience. We commend the government for setting a minimum level of 30% fully protected areas in the new marine park, which is now the global standard,” Mr Gamblin said.

The WA Government has also previously committed to establishing Class A reserves at Qualing Pool, right next to the site of a proposed industrial port, and other key areas. AMCS Protect Ningaloo now calls for the Government to act with urgency on all these commitments to end the decade of uncertainty from the threat of successive industrial proposals, including the current port proposal.

Protect Ningaloo is also pleased that the Government has indicated support for other key Taskforce recommendations, including supporting national and world heritage listing assessments, and other complementary protection mechanisms to improve integrated protection of the Gulf.

Protect Ningaloo strongly supports resourcing Traditional Owners represented by the Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation (NTGAC) to be empowered and have capacity to fulfill their aspirations to care for this special land and sea Country.

“We hope today’s strong commitment to Exmouth Gulf’s protection is also a signal that the WA Government will begin to steer a conservation-oriented approach in this term of government. The community at large identifies strongly with the natural environment and is calling for urgent action. Premier Roger Cook has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to demonstrate how WA can lead the nation and the world by showing how genuine conservation efforts, strong nature laws and real action on climate can underpin a resilient, future-focused economy that serves the community,” said Mr Gamblin.

Ends.

 

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