Marine parks and reserves are created and managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation under provisions of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.
Marine reserves are also vested with the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.
We are closely involved in the development of management plans for all marine reserves, which also require the concurrence of the Minister for Fisheries.
Marine reserves are for multiple use, within which zones can be created to restrict some or all forms of fishing. These zones are described within individual marine park or reserve management plans, and may include recreation, special purpose, sanctuary or general use zones.
We manage the commercial and recreational fishing that is permitted in accordance with bioregional fisheries management arrangements within the majority of marine reserves.
We also play a key role in compliance, enforcement and education of fishing restrictions within marine reserves. Further details about recreational fishing in the reserves in each bioregion can be found through the links below:
Rowley Shoals Marine Park - situated about 260 km west-north-west offshore from Broome.
Ningaloo Marine Park - extends along the west coast of the Cape Range Peninsula, near Exmouth.
Barrow Island Marine Management Area - located 50 km off the north west coast.
Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Park - located offshore from Dampier.
Murion Islands Marine Management Area - approximately 15 km north of the north-west cape near Exmouth.
Shark Bay Marine Park - located off Shark Bay, approximately 800 km north of Perth.
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve - off the coast of Denham, in the Shark Bay Gulf.
Jurien Bay Marine Park - located on the central west coast between Wedge Island and Green Head.
Marmion Marine Park - offshore from Perth's northern suburbs, between Trigg Island and Burns Beach.
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park - located in the Rockingham area.
Swan Estuary Marine Park – in the Swan River, and includes Alfred Cove; Pelican Point in Crawley; and Milyu, adjacent to the Como foreshore Perth.
Ngari Capes Marine Park – extends from Geographe Bay to Hardy Inlet and includes State waters off Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste.
Walpole Nornalup Marine Park – includes the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets and the tidal parts of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers.