Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p50
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 146498–149347

Shipwrecks Act 1976 and has marine archaeology research potential.
Between World War I and World War II, groups of Cocos-Malay workers were stationed on North Keeling Island for up to two weeks at a time, harvesting coconuts, ironwood and birds. Historically ironwood was collected in considerable quantities, mainly for boat building and firewood. Ironwood was cut from around the margins of the lagoon, where it forms a thicket with tea shrub. The small-gauge rail system used initially to transport salvage from the wreck of the Emden was used during this period to transport goods. The corroded and incomplete remains of these tracks still exist. The decayed remains of small rail carriages can also be seen near the island landing site.
On the western shores of the lagoon there is evidence of two atap (long-houses) which were briefly inhabited during this time by the Cocos-Malay workers. Once or twice a week they received a visit from an estate vessel delivering foodstuffs and water and returning to Home Island with timber, coconuts and birds (Bunce 1988).
Historically all access to North Keeling Island was under direct supervision of the Clunies-Ross family. After the death of John Sydney Clunies-Ross in 1944, the frequency of seabird hunting trips to North Keeling Island increased considerably. Groups of jukongs (small sailing boats) sailed to the island whenever the weather was suitable, and thousands of birds were brought down with shotguns as well as traditional flails. Barges also travelled to the island once or twice a year to gather coconuts or bring back birds for Hari Raya festivities (Bunce 1988). After the Australian Government purchased the islands, people were required to obtain a permit from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council prior to visiting North Keeling.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the acquisition of more efficient boats and weapons by the Cocos-Malay people greatly increased the frequency and efficiency of bird-hunting, primarily of the red-footed booby, on North Keeling Island (Stokes 1994). In 1982, the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, now Parks Australia, investigated the situation and recommended urgent control of hunting (Stokes et al. 1984).
By July 1986, agreement had been reached with the Cocos-Malay people for a seabird hunting moratorium on North Keeling Island and the institution of a quota system of hunting for Horsburgh Island. Cyclone John devastated the red-footed booby population in 1989 and all legal hunting ceased to allow the population to recover. In October 1992, Part 3 of the National Parks and Wildlife Regulations (made under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975) came into operation and provided protection for the red-footed booby and other species in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Territory.
In July 2000, the National