Great Australian Bight Marine National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Great Australian Bight Marine National Park South Australia
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Coastline typical of that which adjoins the Great Australian Bight Marine National Park
Great Australian Bight Marine National Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Ceduna
Established	26 September 1996
Area	1,233.22 km2 (476.1 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Great Australian Bight Marine National Park is a special area in the ocean that is protected by law. It's located in the state of South Australia, about 918 kilometers (570 miles) west of the capital city, Adelaide. This park helps keep the amazing marine life and their homes safe.

About the Great Australian Bight Marine National Park

This marine park is made up of two main parts. These parts are found along the coastline, stretching out into the ocean for about 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometers). The park starts near the Western Australia border in the west and goes all the way to a place called the Tchalingaby Sandhills in the east.

There's a special area between these two parts of the park. It's called the Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary. This sanctuary was created in 1995 to give extra protection to whales. All these protected areas together are known as the Great Australian Bight Marine Park.

Why is this Park Special?

The Great Australian Bight Marine National Park was officially created on September 26, 1996. The main reason for setting it up was to protect two very important animals:

• The Southern right whale: This park is a crucial place where these whales come to have their babies.
• The Australian sea lion: Large groups of these sea lions also live and raise their young here.

The government wanted to make sure these animals and their habitats were safe. Later, in 2004, even stronger rules were put in place. These rules stopped any mining or oil exploration from happening in the park. This was done to give the marine life even more protection.

Since 2012, this national park and the whale sanctuary have also become part of a larger protected area called the Far West Coast Marine Park. This shows how important it is to protect this unique part of the ocean.

Protecting Marine Life

The Great Australian Bight Marine National Park is recognized internationally as a very important protected area. It's classified as an IUCN category II protected area. This means it's managed like a national park, focusing on protecting its ecosystems and allowing people to enjoy nature in a responsible way.

This park plays a vital role in the survival of many marine species. By protecting these waters, we help ensure that future generations can also enjoy and learn about the incredible animals that call the Great Australian Bight home.