Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324:front:0:p78
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 222666–225657

Internal currents in the region drive a net clockwise movement of nutrient-rich coastal water contributing to high biological diversity. Tidal eddies induce localised upwellings and hotspots of productivity that correspond with aggregations of marine life within the Marine Park.
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 and a migratory pathway for marine turtles and seabirds.
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 coastal Aboriginal people of West Arnhem Land have responsibilities for sea country in the Marine Park. The Marine Park contains sites which are registered under Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989.The Northern Land Council is the Native Title Representative Body for the Northern Territory's northern region.
Heritage values
No international, Commonwealth or national heritage listings apply to the Marine Park at commencement of this plan.
Social and economic values
Commercial fishing, tourism, and recreation, including fishing, are important activities in the Marine Park. These activities contribute to the wellbeing of regional communities and the prosperity of the nation.

Figure S2.4 Arnhem Marine Park
Wessel Marine Park
The Wessel Marine Park (Figure S2.5) is located approximately 22 km east of Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory. It extends from Northern Territory waters adjacent to the tip of the Wessel Islands to Northern Territory waters adjacent to Cape Arnhem. The Marine Park covers an area of 5908 km² and water depths between 15 m and 70 m.
The Marine Park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Wessel Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category IV and includes two zones assigned under this plan: Habitat Protection Zone (IV) and Special Purpose Zone (Trawl) (VI).
Coordinates for the Wessel Marine Park and zones are provided in Figure S2.5 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Wessel Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with the Northern Shelf. It includes one key ecological feature: the Gulf of Carpentaria basin (valued for its regional importance for biodiversity and aggregations of marine life).
The Marine Park is adjacent to waters surrounding the Wessel Islands, both of which, are regarded as a biodiversity hotspot, supporting some of the most diverse and species-rich environments in the North Marine Region. A number of endemic species occur in the area, and nationally and internationally significant aggregations of migratory shorebirds, seabirds, marine turtles and a variety of unique sponge and coral communities.
Natural values