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Marine Protected Areas in Australia

Did you know that Australia protects 52% of its oceans—more than any other country in the world? As of October 2024, when it expanded the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park by 310,000 square kilometres, Australia had exceeded the 30% nature protection goal in terms of the UN biodiversity treaty.

There are many types of marine protected areas (MPAs), including marine parks and marine reserves. MPAs are dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and help to protect a range of different marine and coastal habitats – from mudflats and estuaries to coral reefs, mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass beds.

In Australia, and around the world, protecting marine ecosystems and sustainably managing MPAs is important to safeguard our oceans and the valuable ecosystem services they provide us. Marine protected areas are one of the tools we can use for ocean conservation, but many others are also needed.

Conservation Volunteers Australia is committed to placing conservation in the hands of everyone in Australia to strengthen human and environmental health. Learn more about the importance of marine protected areas below and how you can make a difference.

Why are Marine Protected Areas Important

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are important because they act as refuges and sanctuaries for marine life. When MPAs are established, they provide a framework for managing these ecosystems.

MPAs are typically legally protected and managed with sustainability and conservation as their main goals, while also protecting endangered species and habitats, and cultural heritage and values. They often do this by restricting or prohibiting activities (e.g. establishing no-take zones and prohibiting destructive practices like drilling or mining) so that marine biodiversity can be restored and flourish.

MPAs also help to protect specific habitats and ecosystems that are under threat and vulnerable, such as seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. They also help marine researchers study the impacts of conservation on wildlife populations and various industries such as tourism and fishing.

While there are a growing number of MPAs, they require effective management and enforcement to achieve their goals of protecting biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of marine resources.

Here’s a list of why MPAs are important

• MPAs help conserve biodiversity and ecosystems

The establishment of MPAs typically prohibits and restricts certain activities that may be harmful to the marine environment. MPAs are also typically managed with conservation in mind, which involves restoring habitats, and monitoring biodiversity.

 

• MPAs restore and protect ecosystem resilience

For marine ecosystems to remain resilient, they must be healthy and function optimally. There are many threats to marine ecosystems, such as climate change, overfishing, invasive species, illegal fishing, and pollution. MPAs can help to control some of these threats, reducing the impact on the marine environment so that the ecosystems are more resilient to shocks and changes. Through habitat restoration, ecosystems can function optimally and support biodiversity.

 

• Climate resilience

MPAs protect vital ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems that sequester carbon and thereby mitigate climate change. Protecting and sustainably managing biodiversity in MPAs, also results in healthy and diverse ecosystems, which are more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

 

In addition, MPAs can provide habitats where species may be able to escape the worst impacts of climate change, while also providing migration corridors for species that need to move from one area to another.

 

• Provide an opportunity for scientific research

MPAs provide valuable opportunities to conduct scientific research that can be used to understand marine ecosystems and manage them more effectively.

 

• Boost local economies

When marine ecosystems are protected and able to thrive, this can have positive impacts on local economies. For example, this can enhance the tourism potential of the area, which can support countless jobs in local communities.

 

• Food security

By protecting marine resources, fish stocks can recover which can help to ensure food security. When fisheries are overexploited, it can cause the collapse of ecosystems and result in significant reduction of fisheries catches.

 

For example, the Atlantic cod fishery in Canada was destroyed by overfishing, resulting in approximately 37,000 job losses, with significant ramifications for local livelihoods and entire industries.

 

• Tourism, fisheries and local livelihoods benefits

MPAs that are managed effectively for conservation can help to replenish fish stocks and support sustainable fisheries. This can benefit local fisheries and local livelihoods.

 

• Provide a safe haven for endangered species

Marine protected areas provide a safe haven for many endangered species that may be vulnerable to extinction. By protecting these endangered animals, MPAs can also help vulnerable species to bounce back and increase their populations.

Get To Know MPAs in Australia

There are different types of marine protected areas in Australia. This includes marine national parks, marine sanctuaries, and marine reserves.

Examples of Iconic Australian MPAs

1. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Queensland)

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. Did you know it’s actually bigger than Victoria and Tasmania combined?

It’s so vast it can be seen from outer space, and has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated off the coast of Queensland, this federal marine park is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

It’s home to many rare and endangered marine plants and animals, and makes up about 10 percent of the world’s coral reef ecosystems. It also contributes $6.4 billion each year to the Australian economy and provides about 64,000 full-time jobs.

 

2. Ningaloo Marine Park (Western Australia)

There are 13 Australian Marine Parks off the north-west coast of Western Australia  that together comprise an expansive network of protected areas.

This includes the Ningaloo Marine Park, which is a World Heritage site and Australia’s longest fringing barrier reef. Known for its incredible biodiversity, it’s home to whale sharks, dugongs, sea turtles, dolphins and corals.

It is managed by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

3. Jervis Bay Marine Park (New South Wales)

Spanning 100 kilometres of the NSW coastline, Jervis Bay Marine Park comprises a range of diverse habitats. This includes rocky reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, sandy beaches and more.

While a new approach to marine park planning is underway in NSW, the Jervis Bay Marine Park Operational Plan outlines how this marine park should be managed to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecological processes, while providing opportunities for ecologically sustainable use.

Get Involved in Ocean Conservation in Australia with CVA

Do you want to actively support ocean conservation in your town or city? Join Conservation Volunteers Australia and become a nature steward today! Our SeaToSource and Revive Our Wetlands programs are blazing a trail for nature conservation across Australia.

By protecting and managing our marine environments, together we can create more resilient and healthy oceans. MPAs are a great tool to help achieve conservation goals, while also providing social, cultural and economic benefits. There’s a lot we can all do to help conserve marine biodiversity and environments.

Here are a few ways you can take action for the ocean

👉  Join one of our environmental volunteering events across Australia. From beach cleanups, citizen science activities to ecosystem restoration events, we offer a range of fun and engaging community events.

👉  Take part in our SeaToSource Plastic Waste Challenge and tackle the impacts of plastic on our oceans

👉  Encourage your company to partner with CVA and support our environmental projects

👉  Learn more about the ocean on our blog, and by signing up to our newsletter

👉  Download the CVA App and find resources and a community of nature stewards

👉  Support our conservation projects by making a donation to CVA

Remember that when you visit one of Australia’s marine protected areas (MPA), to act responsibly and follow the guidelines. Support sustainable tourism and find ways to integrate sustainability into your lifestyle.