Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322:front:0:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 40180–43330

that proved devastating to fleets working the pearling grounds. The North-west Network includes Australia's earliest historic shipwreck, the British East Indiaman Trial, wrecked in 1622, and many other famous shipwrecks. More information on located wrecks and shipwrecks historically reported as lost can be found in the Australian national shipwrecks database.
The North-west Network includes, or is adjacent to, the following internationally listed places:
The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Property
An area of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Property is included in the Ningaloo Marine Park. The property was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee in 2011 on the basis of its outstanding universal value. It includes high marine species diversity and abundance; in particular, Ningaloo Reef supports both tropical and temperate marine reptiles and mammals.
Shark Bay, Western Australia World Heritage Property
The Western Australia World Heritage Property Shark Bay is adjacent to the Shark Bay Marine Park. The property was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee in 1991 on the basis of its outstanding universal value. It includes large and diverse seagrass beds, stromatolites and populations of dugong and threatened species.
Social and economic values
The North-west Network supports a range of important social and economic uses that underpin the prosperity and wellbeing of regional communities.
Shipping, port-related activities, commercial fishing, pearling and aquaculture are industries of national economic significance. The Network also provides some opportunity for offshore mining operations.
Marine tourism such as charter fishing, snorkelling, diving and wildlife watching, are also important commercial activities that offer unique visitor experiences on reefs, islands and cays, and in deep-water environments, particularly around Mermaid Reef and Ningaloo Marine Parks. The Network also supports a range of recreational activities including fishing.

Figure 2.3 Indigenous Protected Areas established in or near the North-west Network
Pressures in the North-west Network
Pressures are human-driven processes, events and activities that if left unchecked, may impact marine park values. Contemporary drivers of environmental change in the marine environment include population growth, economic activity and related pressures such as increased vessel activity, marine debris, climate extremes and ocean warming. Figure 2.4 shows the types of uses occurring across the North-west Network. These present challenges for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of our marine resources.
Australia's 2016 State of the environment report reviewed pressures on Australia's marine environment and determined that they were low by global standards. However, given that more than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 km of the sea, and with Australia's population of approximately 24.4 million projected to grow to 39.7 million by 2055, pressures on the marine environment are likely to increase.
Although pressures on marine ecosystems and biodiversity in the