Proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park

The centrepiece of the strategy is the Kimberley Wilderness Parks initiative which will become Western Australia's largest interconnected system of marine and terrestrial reserves covering more than 3.5 million hectares.

A key component of this initiative is the commitment to establish four marine parks at Camden Sound, Eighty Mile Beach, Roebuck Bay and North Kimberley. Once established, these parks will almost treble the area of marine parks and reserves in Western Australia from about 1.5 million hectares to 4.1 million hectares.

The proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park, located between Port Hedland and Broome, covers an area of about 209,000 hectares, stretching from Mulla Mulla Downs Creek in the south-west to Cape Missiessy in the north-east, and encompassing all of Eighty Mile Beach.

Eighty Mile Beach is one of the world's most important feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds and waders, and is listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. It also supports a significant nesting population of flatback turtles that are endemic to northern Australia, and is rich in other marine life including sawfish, dugong, dolphins and millions of invertebrates that inhabit the sand and mud flats, seagrass meadows, coral reefs and mangroves.

This pristine coastline has impressive panoramic vistas and is popular for beach fishing, camping, four-wheel driving, beachcombing, wildlife viewing and enjoying remote seascapes. This proposed multiple-use park will provide protection for a unique and spectacular part of the lower west Kimberley coastline, while providing for sustainable use, enjoyment of the area, and the maintenance of Aboriginal culture and heritage.

Native title has been determined for much of the lands and waters adjacent to the proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park for the Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla peoples. Strong working relationships and joint management arrangements will need to be developed over time with the Traditional Owners.  These arrangements will help acknowledge and protect Aboriginal culture and heritage including their ongoing connection to coastal and sea country.

On 30 September 2011, an indicative management plan for the proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park was released by the Hon Bill Marmion MLA, Minister for Environment, inviting public comment on the proposed marine park and indicative management plan. The plan has been prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on behalf of the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority,  and provides a framework to conserve the ecological and social values for current and future generations and specifies how the park will be managed over the next 10 years. 

Your suggestions and comments are important to us and we encourage you to make a submission to DEC regarding your thoughts on the proposed marine park and indicative management plan.

•  Proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park indicative management plan 2011 (4 MB)
• Have your say on the proposed Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park (1 MB) Closed