The Western Australian Government has announced the creation of the state’s 11th marine park, with the Ngari Capes Marine Park being listed on the Government Gazette.

 

“The Capes region is home to a remarkable marine environment as well as some of Australia’s top surfing spots,” State Environment Minister Bill Marmion said.

 

Situated about 220km south of Perth, Ngari Capes Marine Park covers about 124,000ha and extends from Geographe Bay near Busselton to Augusta, including the waters between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.


It is one of the State’s most popular tourist destinations and includes the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, which attracted more than 2.7 million visits in 2010-11.

 

“The vast majority of the marine park is open to fishing, with 93 per cent of the coastline available for recreational fishing. The Government has achieved the right mix of conservation, recreation and commercial activity for one of WA’s iconic marine settings,” Mr Marmion said.

 

The park contains a range of both tropical and temperate marine habitats and species as a result of the influence of the warm Leeuwin and cold Capes currents that flow through the area. The park is also home to a range of marine mammals, such as humpback and southern right whales, sea lions and New Zealand fur seals.