Jurien Bay Marine Park
Encyclopedia
The Jurien Bay Marine Park was formally declared on 31 August 2003 and is located 200 to 300 kilometres north of Perth
along the newly opened Indian Ocean Drive that extends south from Green Head to the Southern boundary of Nambung National Park
; it includes many of the islands located in this region.
Approximately 12 per cent of West Australian waters are currently included in marine parks and reserves,and about 2.4 per cent of state waters are in sanctuary (‘no take’) zones. A small part of the Jurien Bay Marine Park has been allocated as a sanctuary and is subject to fisheries regulations.
Western Australia’s marine areas are among the least disturbed in the world rich in biodiversity as the coast has two overlapping biogeographic regions
, the tropical north (north of Ningaloo Marine Park) and the temperate south (east of Cape Leeuwin
) so both tropical and temperate species occur here. Along the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean
the Leeuwin Current
carries warm water along this coast from the equator to the southern coast.
s and dolphin
s - go swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving
, fishing, and exploring the offshore reefs and islands.
The Jurien Bay Marine Park is administered by the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority and managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation in partnership with the local community. The Department of Fisheries continues to manage commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture in the marine park in close cooperation with the Department of Environment and Conservation. The town of Jurien Bay boasts a modern boat harbour, which has become the focus for the expanding aquaculture industry.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
along the newly opened Indian Ocean Drive that extends south from Green Head to the Southern boundary of Nambung National Park
Nambung National Park
Nambung National Park is a national park in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia , 162 km northwest of Perth. It contains the Pinnacles Desert....
; it includes many of the islands located in this region.
Approximately 12 per cent of West Australian waters are currently included in marine parks and reserves,and about 2.4 per cent of state waters are in sanctuary (‘no take’) zones. A small part of the Jurien Bay Marine Park has been allocated as a sanctuary and is subject to fisheries regulations.
Western Australia’s marine areas are among the least disturbed in the world rich in biodiversity as the coast has two overlapping biogeographic regions
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
, the tropical north (north of Ningaloo Marine Park) and the temperate south (east of Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia.A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast...
) so both tropical and temperate species occur here. Along the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
the Leeuwin Current
Leeuwin Current
The Leeuwin Current is a warm ocean current which flows southwards near the western coast of Australia. It rounds Cape Leeuwin to enter the waters south of Australia where its influence extends as far as Tasmania...
carries warm water along this coast from the equator to the southern coast.
Flora and fauna
The park includes sea lion and seabird breeding areas along with temperate reefs populated by the temperate and tropical plants and animals supported by the warm Leeuwin current. In the extensive seagrass meadows western rock lobsters serve as nursery areas.Whales migrate each year along the western coast of Australia and visitors can see the incredible variety of marine life found in the waters off Jurien Bay's coast as well as having the opportunity to interact with seals, sea lionSea Lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seal, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species in five genera...
s and dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s - go swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, fishing, and exploring the offshore reefs and islands.
The Jurien Bay Marine Park is administered by the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority and managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation in partnership with the local community. The Department of Fisheries continues to manage commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture in the marine park in close cooperation with the Department of Environment and Conservation. The town of Jurien Bay boasts a modern boat harbour, which has become the focus for the expanding aquaculture industry.