Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p89
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 258203–261178

Indigenous cultural identity, health and wellbeing. Across Australia, Indigenous people have been sustainably using and managing their sea country for tens of thousands of years.
The Noongar people have responsibilities for sea country in the Marine Park. Local traditional owners recognise Kaart, Koort and Waarnginy (head, heart and talking) as bringing together the narratives and protocols that have been practiced for thousands of years and the kinship that influences all stages and cycles of life. Traditional owners have responsibility for cultural values and are focussed on the creation and regeneration of spiritual, ethical, cultural and practical benefits and opportunities for marine systems.
The South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council is the Native Title Service Provider for the South-west region.
Heritage values
No international, Commonwealth or national heritage listings apply to the Marine Park at commencement of this plan.
Social and economic values
Tourism, commercial fishing and recreation, including fishing, are important activities in the Marine Park. These activities contribute to the wellbeing of regional communities and the prosperity of the nation.

Figure S2.9 Bremer Marine Park
Geographe Marine Park
The Geographe Marine Park (Figure S2.10) is located in Geographe Bay, approximately 8 km west of Bunbury and 8 km north of Busselton, adjacent to the Western Australian Ngari Capes Marine Park. The Marine Park covers an area of 977 km2, extending from the Western Australian state water boundary, and a water depth range between 15 m and 70 m.
The Marine Park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Geographe Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category VI and includes four zones assigned under this plan: National Park Zone (II), Habitat Protection Zone (IV), Multiple Use Zone (VI) and Special Purpose Zone (Mining Exclusion) (VI).
Coordinates for the Geographe Marine Park and zones are provided in Figure S2.10 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Geographe Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with the South-west Shelf Province. It includes two key ecological features: the Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay (valued for high productivity and aggregations of marine life, and high levels of biodiversity and endemism); and western rock lobster (valued as a species that plays a regionally important ecological role).
The Marine Park contains an area of high productivity supported by extensive and diverse seagrass beds that cover approximately 60 per cent of Geographe Bay. Tropical and temperate seagrass species account for 80 per cent of the benthic primary production in the area. These meadows provide habitat for fish and invertebrates. Geographe Bay provides important nursery habitat, resting areas and foraging habitats for sharks, whales and seabirds.