Moreton Bay Marine Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moreton Bay Marine Park Queensland
Aerial photo of Mud Island, 2009
The coastline at Point Lookout is zoned as a conservation park
Moreton Bay Marine Park Location in Queensland
Nearest town or city	Brisbane
Established	1992
Area	3,400 km2 (1,312.7 sq mi)
Region	South East Queensland
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Moreton Bay Marine Park

The Moreton Bay Marine Park is a special protected area in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. It was created in 1992 to look after important natural places and the animals that live there.

This marine park stretches from Caloundra in the north down to the very end of South Stradbroke Island. It covers a huge area of 3,400 square kilometers, reaching up to the highest tide mark.

Inside the park, you'll find amazing places like sensitive reefs near Tangalooma and Flinders Reef. It also includes waterways like Coombabah Lake, thick mangrove forests, swamps, and seagrass beds. These areas are vital homes for many creatures.

The park is a temporary home for many migrating shorebirds. You can also spot Dugongs, whales, and turtles swimming in the bay's waters.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages the Moreton Bay Marine Park. This park is also recognized internationally under the Ramsar Convention. This agreement, signed in 1971, helps protect important wetlands around the world. Moreton Bay is one of Australia's largest sites listed under this convention.

Protecting Moreton Bay's Habitats

Since March 1, 2009, all activities in the marine park follow a special plan. This plan helps manage how people use the park while keeping it safe for nature.

Understanding Park Zones

Kangaroo Island and Tipplers Passage near Jacobs Well, 2014

The Moreton Bay Marine Park has four main types of zones. Each zone has different rules to protect the environment:

• Marine national park zone (green): These areas are highly protected. They are like national parks on land, where nature is kept as untouched as possible.
• Conservation park zone (yellow): In these areas, some limited fishing and crabbing are allowed.
• Habitat protection zone (dark blue): These zones protect sensitive habitats. Activities like trawling (a type of fishing using large nets) are not allowed here.
• General use zone (light blue): These areas allow more activities, including trawling.

Park rangers regularly patrol these zones to make sure everyone follows the rules. For example, fishing in a green zone can lead to a fine of up to A$500.

Special Designated Areas

Within the marine park, there are nine types of special designated areas. These areas are set aside to manage specific issues in certain locations. For instance:

• Go slow areas: These are places where boats must slow down to protect slow-moving animals like dugongs and turtles.
• No anchoring areas: Boats cannot drop anchor here to protect delicate reefs from damage.
• Grey nurse shark areas: These zones help protect the endangered grey nurse shark species.

The Queensland Government has also created three artificial reefs within the marine park. These reefs cost AU$2 million and provide new homes for marine life. You can find a free guide about the park's rules and zones at local bait and boat shops, or online.

Images for kids

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  Intertidal zone at Kings Beach, 2018