Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324:front:0:p76
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 217327–220296

Park at commencement of this plan.
Social and economic values
Commercial fishing and mining are important activities in the Marine Park. These activities contribute to the wellbeing of regional communities and the prosperity of the nation.

Figure S2.2 Oceanic Shoals Marine Park
Arafura Marine Park
The Arafura Marine Park (Figure S2.3) is located approximately 256 km north-east of Darwin and eight km offshore of Croker Island, Northern Territory. It extends from Northern Territory waters to the limit of Australia's exclusive economic zone. The Marine Park covers an area of 22,924 km², and a water depth range from less than 15 m to 500 m.
The Marine Park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Arafura Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category VI and includes three zones assigned under this plan: Multiple Use Zone (VI), Special Purpose Zone (VI) and Special Purpose Zone (Trawl) (VI).
Coordinates for the Arafura Marine Park and zones are provided in Figure S2.3 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with the Northern Shelf Province and Timor Transition. It includes one key ecological feature: the tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression (valued as a unique seafloor feature with ecological properties of regional significance). It is near to important wetland systems including the Cobourg Peninsula Ramsar site, and provides important foraging habitat for seabirds.
Natural values
The Arafura Marine Park includes examples of ecosystems representative of:
  * Northern Shelf Province—a dynamic region, with gently sloping shelf topped with a number of pinnacles at depths ranging from 5 m to 30 m. Tidal eddies induce localised upwellings and hotspots of productivity, which correspond with aggregations of marine life within the Marine Park.
  * Timor Transition Province—includes continental slope, canyons, ridges, terraces and the Arafura Depression. The primary drivers of biological productivity are associated with deep water upwellings at canyon heads, driven by strong tides.
The key ecological feature in the Marine Park is the tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression—an area that contains canyons that are approximately 80–100 km long and 20 km wide with a variety of sediments including sand, mud and rock. The canyons channel deep ocean waters, enhancing productivity and supporting large predatory fish, whale sharks, sawfish and marine turtles, deep sea sponges, and barnacles.
The Marine Park supports a range of species, including species listed as threatened, migratory, marine or cetacean under the EPBC Act. Biologically important areas within the Marine Park include internesting habitat for marine turtles and important foraging and breeding habitat for seabirds.
Cultural values
Sea country is valued for Indigenous cultural identity, health and wellbeing.