Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00071:body:0:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00071
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 31343–34369

from rookeries to the west, including the Seychelles and the Chagos Archipelago. Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park, together with Pulu Keeling National Park, captures areas that are important to both green and hawksbill turtles for foraging and resting. The moderate sized rookery at Pulu Keeling supports a unique genetic stock of green turtles that is isolated and has limited genetic transfer with other rookeries in the Indian Ocean. The preferred food of green turtles is seagrass and, in its absence, they rely on seaweed and animal material. Hawksbill turtles have a varied diet often relying on invertebrates, especially sponges supported by seagrass and coral reef habitat. Leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are also observed in the waters of Cocos (Keeling) Islands from time to time. Actions under this management plan will contribute to the objectives of the Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia.
Open ocean ecosystem and seafloor features
The entirety of Cocos (Keeling) Islands' offshore marine environment  more than 400,000 km2 of ocean – is captured within Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park. Within this vast area there are seamounts and seamount chains and a long ridgeline, among other deep-sea features. The variation in depth and seafloor habitat that these features provide supports a diversity of deep‑sea species. Gorgonian fans, seastars, crabs, anemones and many other marine invertebrates exhibiting unique and unusual features can be found in these deep-sea environments. The open ocean pelagic environment also supports a range of species such as oceanic sharks, large pelagic fish like yellowfin tuna, ikan terbang (flying fish) and seabirds. Nine species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) have been recorded in the marine environment around Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Figure 2.5 Proposed offshore key ecological features of Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park

Image: Muirfield Seamount – around 130 km south-west of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CSIRO) (the coloured area represents the extent of the mapping undertaken by the RV Investigator in 2022)

Image: Tripod fish (Ocean Exploration Trust / NOAA)

    2.3.2     Cultural values
For nearly 2 centuries, Cocos Malay people have continuously relied on the southern atoll lagoon and ocean environment for their livelihood and sustenance. The Cocos Malay people's interdependence with the marine environment has significantly shaped their way of life and contributed to their unique cultural identity.
Cultural knowledge
The Cocos Malay people's strong connection to the marine environment is evident through their traditional fishing practices, in which they have harnessed their knowledge of marine life, tides and navigation skills to sustain themselves for generations. Over time, Cocos Malay elders have observed ecological changes in the marine environment. They have valuable insights into the natural features of their environment, providing a useful knowledge base for researchers and Parks Australia. The