Murray Commonwealth Marine Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murray Commonwealth Marine Reserve |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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| Location | Indian Ocean, Australia |
| Nearest town | Victor Harbor, South Australia |
| Area | 25,803 km2 (9,963 sq mi) |
| Established | August 31, 2007 |
| Governing body | Parks Australia |
The Murray Commonwealth Marine Reserve is a huge underwater park off the coast of South Australia in Australia. It's like a special protected area in the ocean, covering about 25,803 square kilometers! That's bigger than some small countries. This reserve was set up in 2007 to help protect the amazing sea life and habitats found there. It's part of a bigger network of protected areas called the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.
One of the coolest features in the reserve is the Murray Canyon. This is a giant underwater canyon that goes down super deep, about 4,600 meters! That's almost 5 kilometers deep. It stretches for more than 150 kilometers. The reserve is also a very important place for southern right whales. They use the areas closer to shore to have and raise their baby whales.
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Protecting the Ocean's Treasures
Most of the Murray marine reserve is a special type of protected area called IUCN protected area category VI. This means it's managed to protect its natural features while still allowing some activities that are carefully controlled. However, different parts of the reserve have different rules to keep the ocean safe.
Understanding Protection Zones
The reserve is divided into different zones, each with its own level of protection. This helps make sure that the most important areas are kept very safe, while other areas can be used in a way that doesn't harm the environment.
| Zone Name | Protection Level | What You Can Do | Size (km2) |
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| Fishing for Fun | Commercial Fishing | Mining | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marine National Park | Very High (Level II) | No | No | No | 12,749 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Purpose | High (Level VI) | Yes | No | with approval | 7,147 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Multiple Use | Moderate (Level VI) | Yes | with approval | with approval | 5,907 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marine National Park Zone
This is the most protected part of the reserve, covering 12,749 square kilometers. It's like a national park on land, but underwater! In this zone, no fishing of any kind is allowed, and no mining is permitted. This helps keep the marine life and their homes completely safe from human activities.
Special Purpose Zone
This zone covers 7,147 square kilometers. Here, you can enjoy recreational fishing (fishing for fun), but commercial fishing (fishing to sell) is not allowed. Mining might be allowed, but only with special permission and if it's proven not to harm the environment.
Multiple Use Zone
The Multiple Use Zone is 5,907 square kilometers. In this area, both recreational fishing and some commercial fishing are allowed, but only with special approval. Mining can also happen here, but again, only with careful checks and permission to make sure it's done safely. This zone tries to balance protecting nature with allowing people to use the ocean's resources.
