West Cape York Marine Park facts for kids

The West Cape York Marine Park is a special ocean area off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It's located west of the Cape York Peninsula. This marine park covers a huge area of about 16,012 square kilometers. That's bigger than many countries!

It's part of a group of 8 parks called the North Marine Parks Network. These parks are managed by Parks Australia. They help protect important ocean habitats and the amazing creatures that live there.

Why This Marine Park Is Important

This park is super important for many reasons. It helps protect different types of ocean environments. It also provides a safe home for many animals.

Amazing Animals and Their Homes

The West Cape York Marine Park is a vital spot for several threatened animals. It's like a safe haven for them.

• Sea Turtles: This park is a key resting area for three types of threatened sea turtles. These include the flatback turtle, hawksbill turtle, and olive ridley turtle. They rest here between laying their eggs.
• Frigate Birds: It's also an important place for large groups of migratory lesser frigate birds to roost. These birds travel long distances.

Special Ocean Areas

The park includes examples of different ocean ecosystems. These are like different neighborhoods in the ocean.

• Northern Shelf Province: This area includes the Carpentaria and West Cape York regions.
• Northeast Shelf Transition Province: This area includes the Torres Strait region.
• Gulf of Carpentaria: The coastal zone of the Gulf of Carpentaria is very rich in marine life. It has many different kinds of plants and animals.
• Gulf of Carpentaria Basin: This deeper part of the Gulf also has a lot of biodiversity. Many marine animals gather here.

History of the Park

The West Cape York Marine Park was first officially recognized on December 14, 2013. At that time, it was called the West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

Later, on October 9, 2017, its name was changed to West Cape York Marine Park. The rules for protecting the park and managing activities started on July 1, 2018.

How the Park Is Protected

The West Cape York Marine Park has a special protection level called IUCN protected area category IV. This means it's managed mainly for protecting habitats and wildlife.

Inside the park, there are three different zones. Each zone has its own rules to make sure marine life and their homes are safe. These rules help manage what people can do in each area.

Here's a quick look at the different zones and what activities are allowed: