Breaking news! Three new marine parks in the Buccaneer Archipelago have been announced!
The Bardi Jawi Gaarra, Mayala and Maiyalam Marine Parks are Australia’s first marine parks to be co-designed with Traditional Owners. This is a big win for both culture and conservation.
The new marine parks cover 600,000 hectares of Kimberley coastal waters and the 1000 islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago.
The marine life of this part of WA’s coast is truly special and worthy of increased protection. Coral lagoons, seagrass meadows, and deep-water canyons surround the islands. It’s an ocean oasis for humpback whales, dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles, and rare corals found nowhere else on earth.
And for the first time, Aboriginal saltwater culture will be protected through special purpose cultural zones – a truly historic achievement by Bardi Jawi, Mayala, and Dambeemangarddee Traditional Owners.
Send a message of congratulations to the Traditional Owners and WA Government for creating these marine parks!
Image location: Bedford Island, WA. Image credit: Matt Moreton-Deakin