With the Premier having now announced a Kimberley marine and terrestrial conservation package, this letter is specifically addressing key concerns regarding the proposed marine parks.

Dear Premier

Your recent announcement to create new marine and terrestrial conservation areas is a welcomed first step for the protection of the Kimberley.

The Kimberley coast is as important as Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef, but your current proposal won't deliver anywhere near the same protection as these marine parks.

The proposed Camden Sound Marine Park has only 13% of its area protected in marine sanctuaries, with the majority of the park open to extractive use. So far, that's around two per cent of the Kimberley's precious marine environment that would be fully protected.

Only a network of large marine sanctuaries along the Kimberley Coast will provide enough protection to enable marine life to feed and breed without disturbance from industry and fishing.

Marine parks that just carry on "business as usual" without real sanctuaries won't achieve their purpose: they won't protect the environment.

You still have an opportunity to strengthen this proposal and establish real protection on the Kimberley coast. We know there is strong support across the community for your government taking this action.

Protected areas are a critical part of securing the social, economic and environmental future of this region. I urge you to establish a network of large fully protected sanctuaries at Camden Sound to protect the extraordinary values there, and to also set the bar at a scientifically defensible level for the other three Kimberley marine parks to come.

Yours sincerely

 

 

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