Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322:front:0:p92
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 263178–266245

slopes.
Key ecological features of the Marine Park are:
  * the ancient coastline at the 125-m depth contour—where rocky escarpments are thought to provide biologically important habitats in areas otherwise dominated by soft sediments; and
  * the continental slope demersal fish communities—characterised by high diversity of demersal fish assemblages.
The Marine Park supports a range of species, including protected species listed as threatened, migratory, marine or cetacean under the EPBC Act. Biologically important areas within the Marine Park include breeding and foraging habitat for seabirds, internesting and nesting habitat for marine turtles, breeding, calving and foraging habitat for inshore dolphins, calving, migratory pathway and nursing habitat for humpback whales, migratory pathway for pygmy blue whales, foraging habitat for dugong and foraging habitat for whale sharks.
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 Wunambal Gaambera, Dambimangari, Bardi Jawi and the Nyul Nyul people's sea country extends into the Kimberley Marine Park. The Wunambal Gaambera people's country includes daagu (deep waters), with about 3400 km2 of their sea country located in the Marine Park. The Wunambal Gaambera, Dambimangari, Bardi Jawi and the Nyul Nyul people have an unbroken connection to their sea country, having deep spiritual connection through Wunggurr (creator snakes) that still live in the sea. Staple foods of living cultural value include saltwater fish, turtles, dugong, crabs and oysters. Access to sea country by families is important for cultural traditions, livelihoods and future socio-economic development opportunities.
The national heritage listing for the West Kimberley recognises the following key cultural heritage values:
  * Wanjina Wunggurr Cultural Tradition which incorporates many sea country cultural sites;
  * log-raft maritime tradition, which involved using tides and currents to access warrurru (reefs) far offshore to fish;
  * interactions with Makassan traders around sea foods over hundreds of years; and
  * important pearl resources that were used in traditional trade through the wunan and in contemporary commercial agreements.
The Wunambal Gaambera, Dambimangari and Bardi Jawi people consider that these values extend into the Kimberley Marine Park. The Wanjina Wunggurr is law of the Wunambal Gaambera and Dambimangari people and it is recognised that all of the sea country, land, plants and animals were put there by Wanjina Wunggurr. Under Wanjina Wunggurr law, the Wunambal Gaambera and Dambimangari people have a responsibility to manage country, to maintain the health of the country and all living things. The Wunambal Gaambera, Dambimangari and the Bardi and Jawi people have had native title determined over parts of their sea country included in this Park. The native title holders for these people are represented by