Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322:front:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 37428–40475

the Department's website.
Ashmore Reef Ramsar site
The Ashmore Reef Ramsar site is located within the boundary of the Ashmore Reef Marine Park. The site was listed under the Ramsar Convention in 2002 and is a wetland of international importance under the EPBC Act. The site includes the largest of the atolls in the region, and West Island, Middle Island and East Island represent the only vegetated islands in the region. The site supports internationally significant populations of seabirds and shorebirds, is important for turtles (green, hawksbill and loggerhead) and dugong, and has the highest diversity of hermatypic (reef-building) corals on the West Australian coast.
Cultural values
Aboriginal people of north-western Australia have been sustainably using and managing their sea country for tens of thousands of years, in some cases since before rising sea levels created these marine environments. Sea country refers to the areas of the sea that Aboriginal people are particularly affiliated with through their traditional lore and customs. Sea country is valued for Indigenous cultural identity, health and wellbeing.
Aboriginal people continue to assert inherited rights and responsibilities over sea country within the North-west Network. It is recognised that spiritual corridors extend from terrestrial areas into nearshore and offshore waters, a number of marine animals are totems for Indigenous people, and that songlines pass through marine parks.
Three native title determinations have been made over sea country within the Kimberley Marine Park. These determinations recognise in law that native title exists over sea country and preserve continuing rights to access sea country to hunt, fish, gather and use the resources of the waters for personal, domestic, communal, cultural and spiritual needs. Figure 2.3 shows the Indigenous Protected Areas established in or near the North-west Network.
Traditional Indonesian fishers have also visited and used the northern coast of Australia and its islands and reefs since at least the early eighteenth century. Evidence of this, for example grave sites, is found within the Ashmore Reef Marine Park.
Heritage values
Protected places (world, national and Commonwealth heritage, historic shipwrecks)
The EPBC Act protects matters of national environmental significance that are classified as protected places, including world heritage properties and national heritage places. Places on the Commonwealth Heritage List or shipwrecks listed under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 are also protected places.
Historic shipwrecks are a unique historic value and the region is an area of considerable importance in Australia's maritime history. Many of these vessels were lost in the cyclones 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