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Western Australia's largest marine sanctuary, designed to protect whales calving off the Kimberley coast, will be jointly managed by the Western Australian Government and traditional owners.

The Camden Sound Marine Park was recently formalised at a ceremony in the town of Derby, with Western Australian Environment Minister Albert Jacob signing the first ever joint management agreement for a marine park with the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation.

The new Lalang-garram Camden Sound Marine Park will safeguard the primary calving area of humpback whales that migrate annually along the Western Australian coast between the Antarctic and the Kimberley.

Other species that will be protected include the newly-discovered snubfin dolphin, marine turtles, dugongs, saltwater crocodiles, and several species of sawfish.

The park ultimately will cover more than 7,000 kilometres2, or 700,000 hectares, once the park boundary is extended to the high water mark.

The traditional owners along with the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and the Department of Parks and Wildlife will jointly manage the park which is expected to create dozens of jobs for the Dambinangari people.

One fifth of the park will be set aside as sanctuary zones where non-indigenous fishing will not be allowed, however, other sections will continue to be accessible to boaters.

Minister Jacob said that the creation of the Park was a landmark agreement for traditional owners and the Government, stating "the creation of this park ... will not only protect the ocean environment, it will pave the way for training and employment opportunities for traditional owners."

Chairman Warren Barunga said it was a proud moment for local families and should serve as a model for future management of conservation areas, explaining "it's a massive thing, getting the recognition from the State Government, in coming together to jointly-manage our salt-water country is just huge.

"It's traditional knowledge and science coming together to properly manage a marine park, I think it's significant in a lot of ways."

Conservation groups expect that sanctuary will soon become a tourism icon which will be recognised for its national leadership position on marine conservation. 

23rd April 2012 - NEW MARINE PARK TO PROTECT KIMBERLEY COAST 

28th March 2012 - NO FISHING ZONES CENTRAL TO WA MARINE PARK PLAN

2nd October 2010 - $20 MILLION BOOST FOR CONSERVATION AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM IN WA

9th October 2009 - NEW PROGRAM TO OFFER UNIQUE NATIONAL PARK EXPERIENCES

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