Photo Credit : M.Otkay Kaya

A Sanctuary for the Australian Humpbacks is in your hands

The Camden Sound Marine Park could be the first new marine park in state waters in many years.

With less than one percent of the massive West Australian coast protected, this is a crucial step in the right direction to see more of WA’s rich marine diversity protected.

Background – What is at stake

Camden Sound is a relatively wide body of water in the Indian Ocean located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Camden Sound lies more than 400 kilometres north of Broome and is bounded by the Bonaparte Archipelago to the east, the Buccaneer Archipelago to the west, and Montgomery Reef to the south - Australia's largest inshore reef at 292 km2. Camden sound truly is an Australian ecological jewel that must be protected.

The Kimberley coast is of global significance – one the largest unspoiled coastlines left on the planet. 

It is WA’s equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef in terms of its natural values and sustainable tourism potential. 

The Kimberley coast is home to an estimated 22,000 Humpback whales, the world's largest population. Each year the whales give birth and breed between Broome and Camden Sound and prepare for the annual migration to their Antarctic feeding grounds. The area is used as a nursery as calves are birthed and suckled in the warm, tropical waters of the Kimberly.  

Camden Sound and the wider whale nursery region is home to an astonishing array of wildlife.  We need to make sure that the Premier declares a marine park with adequate boundaries, including sufficient sanctuary zones within the park to ensure that the whales and all the wildlife that this region supports are protected forever.

The WA Government in the next week or so will announce its decision on what size this new marine park will be and how large the highly protected sanctuary areas within the park will be. 

Only a large park with substantial sanctuaries will ensure the areas unique marine life is able to breed and feed without the effects of industrial development and overfishing.

What was promised - in the premiers own words – October 3rd 2009

Of all the breeding and calving locations along our vast coastline, Camden Sound is identified as the most significant. It is the largest nursery for humpback whales anywhere on the planet. It is a significant area, some 4,000 square kilometres, and today I’m delighted to announce on behalf the Liberal-National Government that we are to declare Camden Sound as a marine park, to ensure all the protection for that very pristine and unique environment, and particularly as the world’s most important calving ground for humpback whales, and that ensures that the whale population and this pristine and beautiful part of Western Australia will be preserved forever. -- Premier Collin Barnett October 3rd, 2009

Unfortunately, at the moment all signs are the Premier is going to break his promise.

What you can do to help – remind the premier of his promise

The Kimberley’s marine environment needs your help – please take a moment to click here to tell Premier Colin Barnett  ‘Don’t fail the whales!’ and to keep his promise to protect the Kimberley; an area on par with the Great Barrier Reef.

Only a large park with substantial sanctuaries will ensure the areas unique marine life is able to breed and feed without the effects of industrial development and overfishing.

The Kimberley coast is of global significance – one the largest unspoiled coastlines left on the planet and it needs to be protected for future generations for the benefit of us all.

Please also pass on this message and the links to the website to your friends and family.  

The Premier needs to hear from you today.

Without sanctuaries there is no where for us to PROTECT, DEFEND and CONSERVE the diversity of life in our oceans.”

Photo Credit : The Oceania Project