Big catch! Labor doubles dimension of marine park off Exmouth, addresses fishing considerations | USAEMALL.com

Roger Cook has vowed a new, bigger marine park off WA’s pristine Ningaloo coast will not ban industry or fishing, but will protect the habitat for future generations.

The whole-of-gulf marine park off Exmouth announced on Friday doubles the size of the proposed protected area that was previously announced in 2022, following a two-year review.

“The Gulf deserves a whole-of-gulf decision and today we’re proudly delivering,” the Premier said.

“Our commitment is simple. Sustainable economic development will be able to continue, managing commercial fishing can continue, tourism can continue, whilst ensuring that the Gulf’s environmental values are protected.”

The proposed park will be jointly managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation.

“It is a sacred place,” Payungu Elder Rachael Cooyo-Hicks said.

“We have always had this knowledge as traditional owners, it is something that is only now being understood by western science. Country works as one. If you take from one place, it impacts the other.

“All these years the Gulf has been lacking that same protection . . . Today is a proud day.”

The Premier’s press conference in Learmonth was briefly interrupted by squeals of delight, when Victorian tourists on the jetty behind him caught a squid.

Adrian and Claudia Street, who are enjoying a three-month road trip across WA, quickly declared Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef their favourite spot.

“The beauty of WA, it is so well maintained, the beaches are immaculate,” Ms Street said.

“The fish were amazing, but the coral was definitely bleaching.”

Adrian was worried about how recreational fishing might be impacted by the decision.

“This is what we love to do. As long as it’s not all wiped out, because to see kids, with a smile on their faces, catching fish, if this was closed, that wouldn’t happen,” he said.

The detail will be worked out over the next 18 months, with a target of making 30 per cent of the marine park a fishing-free sanctuary.

“I doubt very much that it’ll affect people fishing from this particular jetty,” Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne said.

“A marine park is not about exclusion, it’s about protecting what we love and protecting the values and the activities that we engage in, making sure that what is here and what has been here for a long time is sustainable into the future.”

Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland was worried a number was already being locked in.

“WA’s recreational fishers are strong champions of sustainability,” he said.

“That said, locking in an arbitrary target of at least 30 per cent no-catch sanctuary zones before boundaries or local needs are even discussed is completely premature.”

The Government also announced another $5 million for research into the impact of a recent marine heat wave that caused a mass bleaching of coral at Ningaloo Reef, with scientists reporting a mortality rate of 61 to 90 per cent in the Rowley Shoals.

“There was a marine heatwave about 15 years so that affected this area in Shark Bay and we did see the coral reefs come back, but what they need is time,” Mr Swinbourne said.

“What we want to see with our research is whether or not we can get more resilient coral to see if we can handle the likely increase in marine heatwaves.”

The announcement was welcomed by the Australian Marine Conservation Society, though chief executive Paul Gamblin took the opportunity to push the Premier to go further and legislate a net zero target.

“We’d like to see the Government taking further action on that front,” he said.

“But today is also about acknowledging the importance of being ambitious and protecting our environment. And the Government has shown a degree of commitment that is worth celebrating.”

The Greens also called it a “massive win” but called for more.

“We urgently need to monitor and track the full impacts of this heatwave,” Greens MP Sophie McNeill said.

“It’s shameful that in a state as wealthy as ours, a lack of funding has prevented that from happening. This new funding is nowhere near enough, but it’s a good start to build on.”