Ningaloo to be protected as world's coral reefs decline
Coral reefs around the world are in trouble. An estimated 30 per cent are already severely damaged as a result of human influences such as development and overfishing, and global warming threatens to bleach thousands of kilometres of coral.
Experts say close to 60 per cent of the world's coral reefs could be lost by 2030.
But Australia's precious reef systems could finally be receiving the protection they deserve following two momentous conservation decisions by state and federal governments this year.
First it was the iconic Great Barrier Reef, with an historic decision by the national government in December last year to extend no-fishing zones from five per cent of the reef to over 33 per cent, which equates to over 11 million hectares of marine park.
And now another of Australia's magnificent coral reef systems, Ningaloo Reef, has been given a greater chance at protection with a landmark conservation decision by the Western Australian government.
Following years of campaigning by WWF and others, sanctuary zones along Ningaloo Reef have been increased from 10 per cent to 34 per cent, and the marine park has been extended to include the whole of the reef.
The decision marks a significant victory for people like WWF's Senior Policy Officer Oceans and Coasts, Paul Gamblin, who has fought for three years to have the reef's staggering biodiversity protected against overfishing and inappropriate development.
"This is a case of tens of thousands of people providing the platform for good government decisions and for scientists to be able to provide advice on the management of our natural assets," he said.
"The prime impact of the decision is to provide greater areas on the reef where the ecosystem can recover from pressure.
"It is important to have key areas of reef in a natural healthy state, so that when the reef gets bleached from overheating of the water, which is inevitable, you have healthy areas to help the rest of the reef recover," he said.
Stretching nearly 300 kilometres along the rugged Western Australian coast, Ningaloo Reef supports a dazzling array of marine life.
Whale sharks cruise the waters around the reef. Humpback whales migrate with newborn calves through its channels which are also home to dugongs and a number of threatened turtle species, as well as about 500 species of fish and over 600 types of coral.
Considered one of the healthiest reef environments in the world, Ningaloo sits in a special bio-geographic zone where the distributions of tropical and temperate marine and terrestrial organisms overlap.
A complex reef system has evolved which is unique to Ningaloo, making it a biologist's dream and giving it special status amongst the world's embattled reef environments.
Gamblin said Ningaloo's position as a healthy reef at a time when most reefs around the world were in decline made the decision to protect it one of international importance.
"Ningaloo is very significant internationally and is one of the world's healthiest reefs. It's also one of the world's longest fringing reefs, which means you can walk from the beach straight onto the reef, which is quite unusual," he said.
"But if you want a resilient reef then you have to have sanctuary zones. Two thirds of the reef is still open to recreational fishing but we need one third protected for the benefit of the whole reef."
Gamblin said the decision to encompass so much of the reef into protective sanctuaries was the result of a huge national and international campaign, which involved a range of conservation organisations.
Joining WWF-Australia in the campaign to better protect the reef, and also welcoming the result, were the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Conservation Council of WA and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Gamblin said the reef's biodiversity and its status as one of the world's major healthy reef systems inspired the campaign.
"The result that we have now achieved, to have a large area protected under a series of sanctuary zones, really comes on the back of this huge effort to protect the reef.
"I think WWF supporters need to be aware that their efforts and support really do achieve positive outcomes and they need to be congratulated for this."
How you can help
WWF is seeking volunteers to join an annual turtle conservation and management program on the Ningaloo Coast.
Based in the town of Exmouth, volunteers will work as part of a dedicated team recording data during the peak turtle nesting season from December to the end of February of each year.
