Norfolk Marine Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norfolk Marine Park |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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| Location | Australia |
| Area | 188,444 km2 (72,759 sq mi) |
| Established | 1 July 2018 |
| Operator | Parks Australia |
| Website | https://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/parks/temperate-east |
The Norfolk Marine Park is a special ocean area near Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia. This marine park is like a huge underwater national park! It stretches for about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from north to south. It covers a massive area of 188,444 square kilometers (72,759 square miles). That's bigger than many countries! The park was created to protect amazing sea creatures and their homes. The Norfolk Marine Park is one of eight parks in the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.
Contents
Why the Norfolk Marine Park is Important
This marine park protects many important things in the ocean. It helps keep the marine environment healthy.
Home to Amazing Animals
The park is a vital place for many animals. It is especially important for protected humpback whales. These huge whales travel long distances. Many different kinds of seabirds also fly through this area.
Special Ocean Waters
The park includes a special ocean area called the Tasman Front. This is where warm water from the Coral Sea meets cold water from the Tasman Sea. This mix of waters brings lots of nutrients. These nutrients help many marine plants and animals grow. It's like a busy highway for sea life!
Unique Underwater Landscapes
The Norfolk Marine Park has many different underwater places. These include deep valleys, tall seamounts (underwater mountains), and flat plateaus. Some areas have special "stepping stones" habitats. These habitats help deep-sea animals travel and spread out. They connect marine life from places like New Caledonia to New Zealand. The Norfolk Ridge, an underwater mountain range, is also in the park. It's a place with lots of different species.
History of the Park
The Norfolk Marine Park was officially created on December 14, 2013. It was first called the Norfolk Commonwealth Marine Reserve. On October 9, 2017, its name was changed to Norfolk Marine Park. The rules for protecting the park started on July 1, 2018.
How the Park is Protected
The Norfolk Marine Park is an IUCN category IV park. This means it's a special area managed to protect its habitats and wildlife. Inside the park, there are three different protection zones. Each zone has its own rules. These rules help make sure that marine habitats and species are safe.
The table below shows a quick look at the rules for each zone:
| Zone | IUCN | Activities permitted | Total area (km2) |
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| Vessel transiting | Recreational fishing | Commercial fishing | Commercial aquaculture | Commercial tourism | Mining | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Park | II | Yes | No | No | No | excludes fishing, with approval | No | 41,661 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habitat Protection | IV | Yes | Yes | most, with approval | with approval | with approval | No | 138,796 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Purpose (Norfolk) | VI | Yes | Yes | most, with approval | with approval | with approval | No | 7,986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External link: Zoning and rules for the Temperate East Marine Parks Network | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
