Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322:front:0:p89
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00322
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 255026–257981

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 breeding habitat for seabirds and a migratory pathway for the pygmy blue whale.
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. At the commencement of this plan, there is limited information about the cultural significance of this Marine Park.
Heritage values
No international or national listings apply to the Marine Park at commencement of this plan.
Commonwealth heritage
Mermaid Reef–Rowley Shoals was established on the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004, meeting Commonwealth heritage listing criteria A, B, C and D.
Historic shipwrecks
The Marine Park contains one known shipwreck listed under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976: Lively (wrecked in 1810).
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 S2.9 Mermaid Reef Marine Park
Argo–Rowley Terrace Marine Park
The Argo–Rowley Terrace Marine Park (Figure S2.10) is located approximately 270 km north-west of Broome, Western Australia, and extends to the limit of Australia's exclusive economic zone. The Marine Park is adjacent to the Mermaid Reef Marine Park and the Western Australian Rowley Shoals Marine Park. The Marine Park covers an area of 146,003 km2 and water depths between 220 m and 6000 m.
The Marine Park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Argo-Rowley Terrace Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category VI and includes three zones assigned under this plan: National Park Zone (II), Multiple Use Zone (VI) and Special Purpose Zone (Trawl) (VI).
Coordinates for the Argo–Rowley Terrace Marine Park and zones are provided in Figure S2.10 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Argo–Rowley Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with the Northwest Transition and Timor Province. It includes two key ecological features: canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain with the Scott Plateau (valued for high productivity and aggregations of marine life); and Mermaid Reef and Commonwealth waters surrounding Rowley Shoals (valued for enhanced productivity, aggregations of marine life and high species richness).
The Marine Park is the largest in the North-west Network, surrounding the existing Mermaid Reef Marine Park and reefs of the Western Australian Rowley Shoals Marine Park. It includes the deeper waters of the region and a range of seafloor features such as canyons on the slope between the Argo Abyssal