Ashmore Reef Marine Park facts for kids

The Ashmore Reef Marine Park is a special ocean area in Australia. It used to be called the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve. This park protects the Ashmore Reef. It is about 630 kilometers (390 miles) north of Broome in Western Australia. It is also about 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Rote Island in Indonesia.

The marine park covers a large area of 583 square kilometers (225 square miles). It is managed by Parks Australia. This park is one of 13 parks in the North-west Marine Parks Network. The Ashmore Reef Marine Park is in a special area called the MOU Box. This area allows people from Indonesia to continue their traditional fishing.

Why Ashmore Reef is Important

The Ashmore Reef is very important for its amazing variety of life. This is because it sits in the path of a big ocean current. This current flows from the Pacific Ocean, through Southeast Asia, and into the Indian Ocean. Another current also flows west from the Arafura Sea and Timor Sea. These currents bring many different kinds of marine life to the reef.

In 2003, the Ashmore Reef was named a "wetland of international importance." This is because its islands are a vital resting place for many birds. These birds migrate, meaning they travel long distances. The reef also has large colonies of seabirds that breed there. It was given the special title of Ramsar Site 1220. This title comes from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Amazing Animals and Habitats

The marine park has many different ocean environments. These include seagrass meadows, sandy areas that appear at low tide, and coral reefs. It also has calm lagoons. These places are home to many important and varied species.

• Sea Snakes: You can find 14 different kinds of sea snakes here. Some of these sea snakes are endemic. This means they are found only in this area and nowhere else.
• Dugongs: There is a population of dugongs living here. These gentle sea creatures might be a unique group.
• Marine Invertebrates: The park has many different marine invertebrates. These are animals without backbones, like crabs and starfish.
• Molluscs: Many kinds of molluscs live here, including some that are found only at Ashmore Reef.
• Sea Turtles: The reef is a feeding and nesting spot for several types of sea turtles. These include loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles.
• Birds: Ashmore Reef is an Important Bird Area. It has about 50,000 pairs of seabirds that breed there. These include bridled terns, common noddies, brown boobies, and frigatebirds. Many other seabirds also use the reef as a stopover or feeding area during their long migrations.
• Sea Cucumbers: There are many different kinds of sea cucumbers here. In fact, 45 species have been recorded. This is important because sea cucumbers are often over-fished in other areas.

Ecosystems and History

The Ashmore Reef is part of important ocean ecosystems. These are found in the North West Shelf and Timor Province regions. The reef itself is an oceanic reef that rises out of the deep ocean.

The area also has cultural importance. You can find Indonesian artifacts and grave sites there. These show the long history of Indonesian people visiting the reef.

History of the Park

The Ashmore Reef Marine Park was first created a long time ago. It was officially declared on August 16, 1983. Back then, it was called the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve. Later, on December 14, 2013, it became a Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Its name was changed to Ashmore Reef Marine Park on October 9, 2017.

How the Park is Protected

The Ashmore Reef Marine Park has a very high level of protection. It is given an IUCN category Ia. This means it is a "strict nature reserve." However, within the park, there are two different protection zones. Each zone has its own rules to help protect the ocean habitats and animals.

Here is a simple look at the rules for each zone: