Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322:front:0:p95
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 271337–274227

pathway for pygmy blue whales.
Ashmore Reef Ramsar site
The Ashmore Reef Ramsar site includes the largest of the atolls in the region. West Island, Middle Island and East Island represent the only vegetated islands in the region. Ashmore Reef Ramsar site supports internationally significant populations of seabirds and shorebirds, is important for turtles (green, hawksbill and loggerhead) and dugong, and has the highest diversity of hermatypic (reef-building) corals on the West Australian coast. It is known for its abundance and diversity of sea snakes. However, since 1998 populations of sea snakes at Ashmore Reef have been in decline.
Cultural values
Indigenous Australians
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. At the commencement of this plan there is limited information about the cultural significance of this Marine Park.
Indonesian
The Marine Park contains Indonesian artefacts and grave sites and Ashmore lagoon is still accessed as a rest or staging area for traditional Indonesian fishers travelling to and from fishing grounds within the MoU Box.
Heritage values
No international or national heritage listings apply to the Marine Park at commencement of this plan.
Commonwealth heritage
Ashmore Reef was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004, meeting Commonwealth heritage listing criteria A, B and C.
Social and economic values
Tourism, recreation and scientific research are important activities in the Marine Park. These activities contribute to the wellbeing of regional communities and the prosperity of the nation.

Figure S2.12 Ashmore Reef Marine Park
Cartier Island Marine Park
The Cartier Island Marine Park (figure S2.13) is located approximately 45 km south-east of Ashmore Reef Marine Park and 610 km north of Broome, Western Australia. Both Marine Parks are located in Australia's External Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands and are also within an area subject to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and Australia, known as the MoU Box. The Marine Park covers an area of 172 km² and water depths from less than 15 m to 500 m.
The Marine Park was originally proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 on 21 June 2000 as the Cartier Island Marine Reserve, and proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Cartier Island Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category Ia and includes one zone assigned under this plan: Sanctuary Zone (Ia).
Coordinates for the Cartier Island Marine Park and zone are provided in Figure S2.13 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Cartier Island Marine Park is significant because it includes habitats, species and ecological communities associated