Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 74 2013–2023 R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I S L T A E R R N A U S T Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 2013–2023 Department of Environment and Conservation 168 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Phone: (08) 6467 5000 Fax: (08) 6467 5562 www.dec.wa.gov.au © Government of Western Australia 2013 January 2013 ISSN 2200-9965 (print) ISSN 2200-9973 (online) This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form (retaining this notice) for your personal, non–commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Environment and Conservation. This management plan was prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Marine Policy and Planning Branch on behalf of the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority. Questions regarding this plan should be directed to: Marine Policy and Planning Branch Department of Environment and Conservation 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington WA 6151 Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 6467 5000 The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Environment and Conservation 2013, Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 2013– 2023, Management plan number 74. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth. This document is available in alternative formats on request. Front cover photos Main–Canal Rocks. Photo: Jamie Scott Top right–Leafy sea dragon. Photo: Mick Eidam Top left–Dave Delroy-Carr getting barreled at Boodjidup. Photo: Jamie Scott Header photo–Cosy Corner. Photo: Jamie Scott Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 2013–2023 Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 74 2013–2023 R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I S L Page 3 T A E R R N A U S T Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 2013–2023 Contents Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................vii Summary .....................................................................................................................................................viii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Marine parks and reserves: special marine places ...............................................................................1 1.2 The Ngari Capes Marine Park ..............................................................................................................1 2 Vision and strategic objectives ............................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Vision ...................................................................................................................................................3 2.2 Strategic objectives ..............................................................................................................................3 3 Definition of the area ................................................................................................................................ 4 4 Bioregional setting and park values ..................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Bioregional setting ...............................................................................................................................8 4.2 Park values ...........................................................................................................................................8 5 Management programs ......................................................................................................................... 11 5.1 Management frameworks ...................................................................................................................11 5.2 Education and interpretation ..............................................................................................................24 5.3 Public participation ............................................................................................................................26 5.4 Patrol and enforcement ......................................................................................................................26 5.5 Management intervention and visitor infrastructure ..........................................................................27 5.6 Research .............................................................................................................................................30 5.7 Monitoring .........................................................................................................................................32 6 Management of ecological values ........................................................................................................ 33 6.1 Geomorphology .................................................................................................................................33 6.2 Water quality (KPI) ............................................................................................................................35 6.3 Seagrass communities (KPI) ..............................................................................................................38 6.4 Intertidal reef communities (KPI) ......................................................................................................39 6.5 Shallow subtidal reef communities (KPI) ..........................................................................................41 6.6 Deep reef communities (KPI) ............................................................................................................43 6.7 Coral communities .............................................................................................................................44 6.8 Invertebrate communities (excluding corals) (KPI) ...........................................................................47 6.9 Finfish (KPI) ......................................................................................................................................49 6.10 Cetaceans and pinnipeds ..................................................................................................................51 6.11 Seabirds and shorebirds ...................................................................................................................53 7 Management of social values ............................................................................................................... 55 7.1 Aboriginal cultural significance (KPI) ..............................................................................................55 7.2 Maritime heritage ...............................................................................................................................57 Page iv Ngari Capes Marine Park management plan 2013–2023 7.3 Marine nature based tourism ..............................................................................................................59 7.4 Commercial fishing and aquaculture .................................................................................................60 7.5 Mining ................................................................................................................................................63 7.6 Recreational fishing ...........................................................................................................................64 7.7 Recreational water sports ...................................................................................................................66 7.8 Coastal use .........................................................................................................................................69 7.9 Seascapes (KPI) ................................................................................................................................71 7.10 Research opportunities .....................................................................................................................72 7.11 Educational opportunities ................................................................................................................73 8 Auditing and reviews .............................................................................................................................. 75 8.1 Annual review by the Department of Environment and Conservation ..............................................75 8.2 Audit by the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority ...........................................................................75 8.3 Links with state of the environment reporting ...................................................................................75 8.4 Links with national environment reporting ........................................................................................76 Appendices ................................................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix I: Reserve tenure and technical descriptions for Ngari Capes Marine Park ....................................77 Appendix II: Bioregional and social setting ....................................................................................................86