Ningaloo Coast

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ningaloo Coast
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
A whale shark at the reef located off the Ningaloo Coast
Location	North West Australia
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, x
Reference	1369
UNESCO region	Asia-Pacific
Coordinates
Inscription history
Inscription	2011 (35th Session)
Location of the Ningaloo Coast off the west coast of the Australian continent

The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia. The 705,015-hectare (1,742,130-acre) heritage–listed area is located approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. The distinctive Ningaloo Reef that fringes the Ningaloo Coast is 260 kilometres (160 mi) long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass with the area inscribed as follows:

....The interconnected ocean and arid coast form aesthetically striking landscapes and seascapes. The coastal waters host a major near shore reef system and a directly adjacent limestone karst system and associated habitats and species along an arid coastline. The property holds a high level of terrestrial species endemism and high marine species diversity and abundance. An estimated 300 to 500 whale sharks aggregate annually coinciding with mass coral spawning events and seasonal localized increases in productivity. The marine portion of the nomination contains a high diversity of habitats that includes lagoon, reef, open ocean, the continental slope and the continental shelf. Intertidal systems such as rocky shores, sandy beaches, estuaries, and mangroves are also found within the property. The most dominant marine habitat is the Ningaloo reef, which sustains both tropical and temperate marine fauna and flora, including marine reptiles and mammals.

— Brief synthesis of Ningaloo Coast as inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The coast and reef draw their name from the Australian Aboriginal Wajarri language word ningaloo meaning "promontory", "deepwater", or "high land jutting into the sea". The Yamatji peoples of the Baiyungu and Yinigudura clans have inhabited the area for over 30,000 years.

Ningaloo Coast World Heritage site

A manta ray with remoras at Ningaloo Reef.

Part of the coral reef pictured underwater in 2012.

A large clam pictured underwater in 2012.

The Ningaloo Coastline, in 2012.

Divers explore a ship wreck adjacent to the coral reef.

Stegostoma fasciatum (zebra shark) pictured on the reef in 2007.

The World Heritage status of the region was created and negotiated in 2011, and the adopted boundary included the Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters), Ningaloo Marine Park (State Waters) and Muiron Islands Marine Management Area (including the Muiron Islands), Jurabi Coastal Park, Bundegi Coastal Park, Cape Range National Park, and the Learmonth Air Weapons Range. The site was gazetted on the Australian National Heritage List on 6 January 2010 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (Cth).

In 1987 the reef and surrounding waters were designated as the Ningaloo Marine Park.

Reputation

Although most famed for its whale sharks which feed there during March to June, the reef is also rich in coral and other marine life. During the winter months, the reef is part of the migratory routes for dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and humpback whales. The beaches of the reef are an important breeding ground of the loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles. They also depend on the reef for nesting and food. The Ningaloo supports an abundance of fish (500 species), corals (300 species), molluscs (600 species) and many other marine invertebrates. The reef is less than half a kilometre offshore in some areas, such as Coral Bay. In 2006, researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science discovered gardens of sponges in the marine park's deeper waters that are thought to be species completely new to science. The short-nosed sea snake, thought to have been extinct for 17 years, was found on Ningaloo Reef in December 2015.

Conservation controversy

In the early 2000s there was much controversy about the proposed construction of a resort at an area called Mauds Landing, which was a major nesting ground of the loggerhead turtle. It was also feared that the resort would be generally degrading to the entire marine park. Author Tim Winton, who lives in the area, was vocal in his opposition to the development. In 2002, when he won the WA Premier's Book Award, he donated the A$25,000 prize money to the community campaign to save the reef. Ultimately the planned resort did not go ahead. However, developers continue to take an interest in the area.

Ningaloo Collaborative Research Cluster

The Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster is a major research project that commenced in the region in 2007. It is part of the CSIRO flagship Collaboration Fund Research Initiative. The project involves researchers from the CSIRO, Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre and a range of Australian Universities including Curtin University of Technology, Murdoch University, University of Western Australia, Australian National University and the University of Queensland. The project will deliver a dynamic model of Ningaloo incorporating socioeconomic and environmental load implications of human activity in the region that can be integrated with an ecological model of the region with the ultimate aim of developing planning tools and management models to ensure sustainable use of the region.

The study involves the collection and processing of socioeconomic data from tourists and the host communities of Exmouth, Coral Bay and Carnarvon. It also involves the collection of data concerning the environmental load of human activity including natural resource use, waste generation, pollution, visual impacts and impacts on flora and fauna. The interactive project involves key stakeholders in the region including the WA Department of Environment and Conservation, the Shires of Carnarvon and Exmouth, local tourism organisations and Tourism WA, the Gascoyne Development Commission, the WA Department of Water and Environment, researchers from Wealth from the Oceans and Ningaloo Project, Chambers of Commerce, WA Department of Energy and Resources, WA Department of Fisheries, the WA Department for Planning and Infrastructure, the Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee and Ningaloo Sustainable Development Office, Yamatji Land and Sea Council representatives, and the Ningaloo research community along with other cluster project members and the State's Ningaloo project. The project also engages with planners and managers in the region to examine tourism development and management.

Specific reserved areas

National parks and reserves in the World Heritage Area

• Bundegi Coastal Park
• Cape Range National Park
• Jurabi Coastal Park
• Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
• Ningaloo Marine Park (State Waters)

Islands of the World Heritage area

• North Muiron Island
• South Muiron Island

Marine Park zones

• Bundegi Sanctuary Zone
• Murat Sanctuary Zone
• Lighthouse Bay Sanctuary Zone
• Jurabi Sanctuary Zone
• Tantabiddi Sanctuary Zone
• Mangrove Sanctuary Zone
• Lakeside Sanctuary Zone
• Mandu Sanctuary Zone
• Osprey Sanctuary Zone
• Winderabandi Sanctuary Zone
• Cloates Sanctuary Zone
• Bateman Sanctuary Zone
• Maud Sanctuary Zone
• Pelican Sanctuary Zone
• Cape Farquhar Sanctuary Zone
• Gnaraloo Bay Sanctuary Zone
• 3 Mile Sanctuary Zone
• Turtles Sanctuary Zone
• South Muiron Conservation Area
• North Muiron Conservation Area
• Sunday Island Conservation Area

• • Source: (2005) Ningaloo Marine Park sanctuary zones and Muiron Islands marine management areas [cartographic material] Perth, W.A.: Dept. of Conservation and Land Management. Scales vary ; Mercator proj. (E 113°24'--E 114°25'/S 21°38'--S 23°59'). Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94)

See also

• Protected areas of Western Australia
• Gnaraloo
• Ningaloo Station
• Warroora

External links

Official websites

• UNESCO World Heritage List: Shark Bay, Western Australia

Additional information

• Ningaloo collaboration cluster site
• Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre site
• Department of Environment and Conservation Site
• A Ningaloo conservation site
• Nice Underwater Video Clips Of Ningaloo Reef