Central Eastern Marine Park facts for kids

The Central Eastern Marine Park is a special ocean area in Australia. It stretches out from the coast of New South Wales, starting about 30 kilometres from Coffs Harbour. This park goes far out into the deep ocean, about 200 kilometres offshore.

This huge marine park covers an area of 70,054 square kilometres. It's like a giant underwater nature reserve! It's managed by Parks Australia and is one of eight parks in the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.

Why is this Park Important?

This marine park is super important for protecting amazing ocean life and unique underwater places.

Special Animals and Homes

• It's a vital area for humpback whales, which are protected.
• You might also find the white shark here, which needs our help to survive.
• Many seabirds that travel long distances also use this area.
• The park protects cool seafloor features. These include very deep flat areas (called abyssal plains) and huge underwater valleys (canyons).
• There are also underwater mountains (seamounts) and hills (knolls) that rise from the ocean floor.

Unique Ocean Areas

• The park includes examples of different ocean environments. These are like different "neighbourhoods" of the ocean, each with its own types of plants and animals.
• It protects parts of deep canyons on the eastern side of the continent. These canyons are like giant underwater rivers carved into the seafloor.
• The Tasmantid Seamount Chain is also part of the park. This chain of underwater mountains is a known place where many open ocean animals, like billfish and marine mammals, come to breed and find food.

Park History

The Central Eastern Marine Park was officially created on 14 December 2013. It was first called the Central Eastern Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Later, on 9 October 2017, its name was changed to Central Eastern Marine Park. The rules for how the park is managed and protected started on 1 July 2018.

How the Park is Protected

The Central Eastern Marine Park is a protected area. This means there are rules to keep its ocean habitats and animals safe.

Protection Zones

Inside the marine park, there are different "zones." Think of these zones like different rooms in a house. Each room has different rules about what you can do there. These zones help make sure the most important parts of the park are kept safe.

• National Park Zone: This zone is the most protected. It's like a super quiet room where nature can thrive without much disturbance. Activities like fishing are generally not allowed here.
• Habitat Protection Zone: This zone focuses on protecting the homes (habitats) of marine life. Some activities might be allowed, but only if they don't harm the environment.
• Multiple Use Zone: This zone allows for more activities, but still with rules to make sure the ocean is looked after. It balances protecting nature with allowing people to use the ocean responsibly.

These zones help Parks Australia manage the park. They make sure that the special plants and animals, and their homes, are kept safe for the future.