Shark Bay Marine Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shark Bay Marine ParkWestern Australia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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A dolphin at Monkey Mia in the marine park
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 Shark Bay Marine Park
Location in Western Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Denham |
| Established | 1989 |
| Area | 7,487.25 km2 (2,890.8 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | WA Department of Parks and Wildlife |
| Website | Shark Bay Marine Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
The Shark Bay Marine Park is protected marine park located within the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Shark Bay, in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The 748,725-hectare (1,850,140-acre) marine park is situated over 800 km (500 mi) north of Perth and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Geraldton.
The marine park is known for its large marine animals, such as the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, turtles, dugongs and sharks. The park and its vast seagrass meadows, with a total of twelve species of seagrass in the park that form an important part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
Major reference points of its boundaries include Steep Point at the south side of Dirk Hartog Island and Cape Inscription at the north side.
Fishing
Fishing in the marine park are governed by the Gascoyne Fishing Rules that specify the waters and species of the Shark Bay area, also known as the Shark Bay Inner Gulfs:
- Eastern Gulf Zone: the region located east of the Peron Peninsula and north from Cape Peron North (25°30.2′S 113°30.6′E / 25.5033°S 113.5100°E to a line at 25°16.6'S) and east to the coast of the mainland. Fishing is not permitted in the southern portion of this zone, the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve.
- Denham Sound: the region also known as the Western Gulf Zone, south to line at Goulet Bluff (25°13’S) which separates the Freycinet Estuary.
