Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p79
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 230758–233766

one zone assigned under this plan: National Park Zone (II).
Coordinates for the Murat Marine Park and zone are provided in Figure S2.4 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Murat Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with the Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition. It includes two key ecological features: benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight (valued as a species group or community that is nationally and regionally important to biodiversity); and small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region (valued as a species group which has a regionally important ecological role).
The Marine Park includes Yatala Reef, a detached reef located in the south-west corner of the Marine Park about 70 km offshore with depths of less than two meters in places. The Marine Park is a hotspot for productivity, with feeding aggregations for a range of species of marine mammals, sharks and seabirds.
Natural values
The Marine Park includes examples of ecosystems representative of the Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition—a vast and shallow area characterised by an extensive area of flat continental shelf. The invertebrate communities that inhabit the seafloor are among the most diverse in the world. The inshore areas of the bioregion are globally important for the threatened southern right whale and the Australian sea lion.
Key ecological features of the Marine Park are:
  * Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight—includes the soft-sediment benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight shelf, which form some of the world's most diverse soft-sediment ecosystems; and
  * Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region—provide an important trophic link between plankton communities and larger fish-eating predators in this area.
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 foraging habitat for seabirds and Australian sea lions.
Cultural values
Sea country is valued for 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 Mirning people have a strong attachment to land and sea country of the Nullarbor, while the Wirangu people have a strong attachment to land and sea country across the remainder of the far west coast region. The care and protection of the waters, coastline, marine creatures, marine environments and sea resources correspond directly with cultural stories and important cultural sites and knowledge.
South Australian Native Title Services is the native title service provider for South Australian region.
Heritage values
No international, Commonwealth or national heritage listings apply to the Marine Park at commencement of this plan.