Garig Gunak Barlu National Park - Parks and Wildlife Commission ...

Cobourg Marine Park 

Plan of Management

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management 

Prepared by the Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board 

and 

Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory, 

Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport 

Published August 2011 

ISBN 1 920772 53 7

Foreword 

It would take many pages and a long time for me to explain how important 

the Cobourg Marine Park is to traditional owners and their families who live 

on, and are related to the gunak and lala (land and sea) of the Cobourg 

Peninsula. Traditional owners and their families belong to this place and 

their future is tied to it. The story of our connection to our land and sea 

continues into the stories of our children and grandchildren to come. 

Traditional owners and their families are proud to be able to manage the 

gunak and lala of Cobourg Peninsula and to share this place with others. 

We work with the Northern Territory Government through the Cobourg 

Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board so that everyone can enjoy 

and benefit from the Park. 

The Board has developed this Plan of Management so everyone knows 

how the Marine Park is managed and how the Traditional Owners and the 

Northern Territory Government look after land and sea country according to 

Aboriginal tradition and Territory law. 

The Traditional owners and the NT Government take the responsibility of 

writing and putting in place this Plan of Management very seriously. 

Traditional owners, their families and the Board know that the Marine Park 

is important to many people. They have taken a long time to develop the 

plan, and listened and talked to a lot of people so the plan reflects and 

balances different opinions as much as possible. We hope this makes the 

Plan strong. 

Now the Plan is written the real job of managing the park together begins. 

But good management can only happen if the Board keeps talking to the 

people who use the Park or have interests in it. 

The Board looks forward to the challenges ahead and hopes that this 

strong Plan of Management will help to protect the Marine Park, and that 

future generations of traditional owners and their families, Territorians, park 

visitors and others will continue to enjoy and benefit from the wonderful 

natural and cultural environments that make the Marine Park so important 

nationally and internationally. 

Mr Shane Cooper 

Chairman 

Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board 

August 2011

CONTENTS 

1. INTRODUCTION 1 

1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................. 2 

1.2 REGIONAL CONTEXT ........................................................................ 3 

2.0 MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK 5 

2.1 OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT ......................................................... 7 

2.2 MANAGEMENT VALUES ..................................................................... 7 

2.3 MAKING DECISIONS AND EVALUATING PROPOSALS ............................. 8 

3.0 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC VALUES 9 

3.1 MARINE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS ............................................... 9 

3.2 FLORA AND FAUNA ........................................................................ 10 

4.0 MANAGING FOR ABORIGINAL VALUES 14 

4.1 TRADITIONAL RESOURCE USE AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. ........... 15 

4.2 ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ........................................... 16 

5.0 MANAGING FOR HISTORICAL VALUES 17 

6.0 MANAGING FOR TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL VALUES 19 

6.1 RECREATIONAL FISHING AND TOURISM ............................................ 19 

6.2 SHIPPING AND BOATING ................................................................. 21 

6.3 VISITOR ACCESS AND SAFETY ........................................................ 21 

7.0 MANAGING FOR ECONOMIC VALUES 23 

7.1 COMMERCIAL FISHING ................................................................... 23 

7.2 PEARLING ..................................................................................... 25 

7.3 AQUACULTURE .............................................................................. 25 

7.4 MINING AND EXPLORATION ............................................................. 26 

8.0 MANAGING FOR EDUCATIONAL VALUES 27 

9.0 STRATEGIES FOR MANAGEMENT 28 

9.1 ZONING SCHEME ........................................................................... 28 

9.2 OTHER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES................................................. 36 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 i

10.0 ENFORCEMENT OF THE PLAN 45 

11.0 EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF THE PLAN 45 

12.0 REFERENCES 46 

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF ZONES 30 

TABLE 2: USES AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN EACH ZONE 32 

FIGURE 1: LOCATION MAP iii 

FIGURE 2: ZONING SCHEME 33 

SCHEDULE 1: CO-ORDINATES FOR ZONING SCHEME 49 

APPENDIX 1: DESCRIPTIONS OF IMCRA 54 

APPENDIX 2: PRELIMINARY FAUNA LIST 59 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 ii

FIGURE 1 

GARIG GUNAK BARLU NATIONAL PARK 

LOCATION MAP 

LEGEND 

BAT HUR ST 

ISLAND 

BEAGLE GULF 

Tiwi-Co bou rg B io region 

Hig hwa y 

Roa d 

DARWIN 

MELV ILLE IS LA ND 

VERNON 

ISLANDS 

# 

S T UA R T 

Sou rce s: 

To po grap hic an d cada stral d ata ob tain ed from th e 

De partm e nt o f L an ds, Plan ning an d E nvironm en t. 

H IG HW A Y 

D JUK BINJ 

NATIONA L 

PA RK 

ARAFURA SEA 

AR NHE M 

PR OPO SED 

MAR Y 

R IVE R 

NATIONA L 

VAN DIEMEN GULF 

GARIG GUNAK BARLU 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 iii 

PA RK 

NATIONAL PARK 

H IG H W AY 

CR OKER 

IS LAND 

KA KADU 

NATIONA L 

PA RK 

KA K A D U 

H IG HW AY 

# 

ARN HEM 

LA ND

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Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 iv

1. INTRODUCTION 

This Plan of Management is prepared pursuant to Part IV of the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal 

Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act, and Section 23 of the Northern Territory Fisheries Act. 

This Plan of Management states the intent of the Cobourg Board, Parks and Wildlife 

Commission (Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport), Traditional 

Owners and the Fisheries Group (Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines) with 

regard to management of the Cobourg Marine Park. It sets management objectives and 

values, outlines current issues and proposes management strategies to guide future 

management and development of the Cobourg Marine Park. 

The co-operative approach that was established in preparing this Plan of Management will 

continue throughout the life of the Plan. The Cobourg Fishery Management Advisory 

Committee was established as a forum for key stakeholder involvement in developing the 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management. 

The Plan will be in operation for a maximum of ten years unless amended or revoked by the 

preparation of a new plan in accordance with the provisions of either of the above named Acts. 

A review of the Plan and its provisions will be conducted once the Plan has been in operation 

for 5 years (mid term review). The Cobourg Board in consultation with recreational and 

commercial fishers will review the management programs annually to assess the progress of 

implementation of the plan and the effectiveness of those programs. 

In March 2007 the full bench of the Federal Court ruled that under the Commonwealth 

Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) traditional Aboriginal owners have exclusive 

possession of the waters over the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust land including intertidal 

areas and tidal estuaries. The implications of the ruling for the management of Cobourg 

Marine Park are unclear and the judgement may be subject to an appeal. This Plan of 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 1

Management may need to be amended to comply with and reflect any High Court decision and 

relevant Northern Territory and Commonwealth legislation. 

1.1 Background 

Cobourg Marine Park is located in the waters surrounding Cobourg Peninsula, approximately 

220 km north-east of Darwin (Figure 1) and occupies an area of approximately 229,000 ha. 

The Marine Park was first declared in July 1983 under Section 12 of the Territory Parks and 

Wildlife Conservation Act (the Act). The Park was re-declared in November 2002 under 

section 12 (1) (aa) of the Act in order to recognise the possibility of the existence of native title 

interests and rights in the Marine Park. 

The Marine Park is part of the larger Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. Garig Gunak Barlu 

National Park includes both the Marine Park and the Cobourg Sanctuary. The Sanctuary 

extends to low water mark and includes the intertidal zone and waters covering the peninsula 

whilst the Marine Park extends seaward from the low water mark. 

An area of sea surrounding Cobourg Peninsula and corresponding closely to the boundary of 

the Cobourg Marine Park, but extending to the high water mark, has been declared a Fishery 

Management Area under section 22(a) of the Fisheries Act. The Fishery Management Area 

includes the water and beds of the Sanctuary between high and low water (the intertidal zone). 

The waters of the Park are generally less than 15 metres in depth. Wave energy is relatively low 

except during periods of strong storm activity and cyclonic events. This wave energy tends to be 

stronger in the Van Diemen Gulf in the southern area of the Park. Tides are generally between 

2 – 2.5 metres in the northern section of the Park and 3 metres in the southern section of the 

Park. There are no major creeks or rivers on the adjoining Sanctuary and consequently there is 

no major freshwater discharge from the Sanctuary into the Marine Park. 

The waters of the Van Diemen Gulf section of the Park are always turbid due to the relatively 

large tidal range and discharge from the large tidally influenced rivers in the southern part of 

the Gulf. Conversely the northern section of the park experiences low turbidity due to the 

small tidal range and small discharge from creeks and estuaries on the Sanctuary. 

Currents tend to flow in accordance with prevailing winds. Between March and August the 

currents flow east to west with the predominantly easterly winds. Between September and 

February the currents generally flow west to east with the predominantly westerly winds. The 

northern portion of the Park is situated in an area of sea that experiences some of the 

strongest currents in the Territory. 


The Marine Park is characterised by a number of deeply incised bays and estuaries on its 

northern shores. These bays are ancient river valleys that were drowned during periods of 

sea level rise and provide a varied environment and habitat that is quite distinct from the open 

water areas of the Park. The areas of the Park that have been studied and where extensive 

collections have been made indicates that the Park supports rich and diverse marine life 

including live coral reefs, seagrass, diverse reef and pelagic fish populations and threatened 

marine turtles and dugong. 

The waters and resources of the Marine Park are used by Aboriginal people of Cobourg, 

recreational and commercial fishermen, fishing tour operators, yachtsmen and other pleasure 

craft users as well as visitors to the adjacent Sanctuary. 

1.2 Regional Context 

The Cobourg Marine Park is the only marine park declared under the Territory Parks and 

Wildlife Conservation Act. However, a number of parks and reserves, such as Charles Darwin 

National Park, Berry Springs Nature Park, Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Shoal Bay Coastal 

Reserve, Tree Point Conservation Area and Kakadu National Park include marine and coastal 

areas. Two aquatic life reserves have been declared under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act, 

one at Doctors Gully and one at East Point. 

The Cobourg Marine Park takes in two of the thirteen marine biogeographic regions (bioregions) 

identified in the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IMCRA) for Northern 

Territory waters (IMCRA Technical Group 1998). Bioregions are discrete geographic localities 

containing distinctive physical and biological attributes, and provide a basic framework for 

development of comprehensive, adequate and representative networks of marine protected 

areas and a base for the protection of marine biodiversity across Australia. The Cobourg Marine 

Park is located in the Cobourg and Van Diemen Gulf marine bioregions with the northern portion 

of the Park covered by the Cobourg marine bioregion and the southern portion covered by the 

Van Diemen Gulf marine bioregion. A description of these bioregions is in Appendix 1. 

The Northern Territory Coastal Management Policy provides the broad policy framework for 

protection of marine and coastal areas with high conservation values. The Northern Territory 

Government may develop a more detailed framework for establishing marine protected areas 

and implementing other marine conservation initiatives, through the development of the Parks 

and Conservation Masterplan. The purpose of the Masterplan is to develop strategies for the 

conservation of the Territory‟s marine and terrestrial biodiversity. 


In accordance with Australia‟s Ocean Policy the Australian Government is in the process of 

developing a bioregional plan under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation 

Act for Commonwealth waters. This includes bioregional planning for Commonwealth waters 

extending from Cape York to the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia 

(Northern Planning Area). The Northern Territory Government is also in the process of 

preparing a Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and a Marine Protected Area Strategy for 

the Territory. 

Most of the Territory‟s marine environment has not been surveyed and there is a distinct lack of 

detailed knowledge of the marine environment that hampers the process of establishing marine 

protected areas. The strategic planning processes established through the Parks and 

Conservation Masterplan, Northern Territory Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and 

Marine Protected Area Strategy and the Australian Governments bioregional marine planning 

initiatives may help to fill some of these knowledge gaps and develop processes to improve our 

knowledge. 


2. MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK 

The main pieces of legislation that apply to the Marine Park are the Cobourg Peninsula 

Aboriginal, Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act (CPS&MP Act), the Territory Parks and 

Wildlife Conservation Act (TP&WC Act) and the Northern Territory Fisheries Act. 

The Cobourg Marine Park is managed jointly by the Northern Territory Government and the 

Cobourg Aboriginal people through the Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board 

under the provisions of the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park 

Act. The Parks and Wildlife Commission have responsibility for the day to day management of 

the park and are responsible for administration of the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, 

Sanctuary and Marine Park Act on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources, 

Environment, The Arts and Sport and the Northern Territory Government. The Board and 

Commission are responsible for the preparation of Plans of Management for the Marine Park. 

The functions of the Board and the Commission are detailed under Sections 24 and 25 of the 

Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act. Nothing in this Plan of 

Management is to be construed or taken as a delegation of the Board and Commission‟s 

functions and powers under the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine 

Park Act to another agent. The Board‟s power to make by-laws in regard to the Sanctuary 

remains. 

Fish and aquatic life in the Marine Park (below low water) with the exception of turtle, dugong 

and crocodiles are regulated under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act. A Fishery 

Management Area Advisory Committee has been established under the Northern Territory 

Fisheries Act to provide advice to the Director of Fisheries on the appropriate management of 

fish and aquatic life in the Fishery Management Area and the Marine Park. The committee 

consists of commercial, recreational, prawning, pearling and traditional Aboriginal owner 

interests. This committee has also operated as an advisory group to the Cobourg Board and 

as a forum to facilitate key stakeholder input into the preparation of this Plan of Management. 


It should be noted that the Cobourg Board has requested the Northern Territory Government 

consider amending the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal, Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act 

to enable the Board to determine bylaws for the Marine Park. At this stage, the Board only 

has the powers to determine bylaws for the Sanctuary to the low water mark. 

The Board believes that, without appropriate powers to determine bylaws for the Marine Park, 

it cannot effectively discharge its management responsibilities under the CPS&MP Act. The 

traditional owners of Cobourg Peninsula support this position. 

It is intended that the Cobourg Fishery Management Area that includes the Marine Park and 

the intertidal area of the Sanctuary will be managed under a Fishery Management Area 

Management Plan in accordance with part 3 of the Northern Territory Fisheries Act. The 

provisions of the Fishery Management Area Management Plan will mirror those established in 

this plan of management. 

Following the implementation of this Plan, there will be continued close co-operation between 

the Cobourg Board, Cobourg Aboriginal people, Parks and Wildlife Commission, Fisheries and 

key fisheries stakeholders (eg Northern Territory Seafood Council, Amateur Fishermen‟s 

Association of the Northern Territory) in the management of fisheries in the Marine Park. The 

Cobourg Fishery Management Area Advisory Committee will be retained as the forum for key 

fisheries stakeholder involvement in management of the Marine Park. Consultation processes 

for other stakeholders including marine conservation and environment groups will be 

developed by the Board” 

If the Board gains bylaw making powers over the marine park the Northern Territory Seafood 

Council and Amateur Fishermen‟s Association of the Northern Territory would be invited to 

attend Board meetings when fisheries issues are considered. 

By arrangement between the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Government under the 

Offshore Constitutional Settlement and incorporated within Territory and Commonwealth 

fisheries legislation, jurisdiction for management of the penaeid prawn fishery rests with the 

Commonwealth. In view of this, close consultation will be undertaken with the Commonwealth 

Government over matters related to prawn trawl activities within the Marine Park. 


2.1 Objectives of Management 

It is intended that Cobourg Marine Park be managed as a multiple use marine park, providing 

for protection of the ecology of the marine environment whilst allowing for ecologically 

sustainable commercial, recreational and customary use of the area. 

The principle objective in managing the Marine Park is to protect the marine biodiversity whilst 

allowing continued sustainable use of its resources and enjoyment of its values. 

More specific management objectives for the Marine Park include: 

Maintaining biological productivity, species diversity and abundance. 

Providing for sustainable customary use by traditional owners. 

Providing for sustainable commercial, recreational and tourism use. 

Improving knowledge, understanding and management of the Northern Territory‟s marine 

environment. 

Protection of cultural and historical values in accordance with Commonwealth and NT 

legislation and Traditional Aboriginal Owner directions. 

Provision of appropriate, safe and enjoyable visitor experiences. 

Management of marine resources under a co-operative framework. 

2.2 Management Values 

There are a number of stakeholder groups that have an interest in the Marine Park and its 

management. Major stakeholder groups include commercial and recreational fishers, pearl 

farmers, Park visitors and tourists. 

These stakeholder groups value the Park and its resources for a variety of reasons. These 

reasons can be categorised into the following broad areas: 

(i) Conservation and Scientific Values; 

(ii) Aboriginal Cultural Values; 

(iii) Historical Values; 

(iv) Tourism and Recreational Values; 

(v) Economic Values; and 

(vi) Educational Values. 

The Park will be managed to protect and maintain these values. 


2.3 Making Decisions and Evaluating Proposals 

The Board may be called upon to make decisions on a broad range of matters related to the 

management and operations of the Park. It is important that Board decisions are well 

informed, consistent with relevant legal requirements and take into account the views of 

traditional owners and key stakeholders. 

In considering proposals and other matters requiring a resolution of the Board, its members 

may require written advice from the Parks and Wildlife Commission, Fisheries or other parties 

on particular issues before making a decision. Wherever possible, such advice will be provided 

in agenda papers for Board meetings and may include reference to: 

issues to be considered in relation to relevant legislation, such as the Cobourg Peninsula 

Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act, the Northern Territory Fisheries Act and 

the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, 

whether a proposal is consistent with the Plan of Management in operation for the Park, 

whether a proposal is consistent with relevant strategies or policies endorsed by the Board 

for the management of the Park 

potential implications for Park operations and the Park budget, and 

the views of traditional owners or key stakeholders. 

A fundamental feature of Aboriginal decision making in relation to land and sea country is the 

primary right of traditional Aboriginal owner groups to make decisions about matters affecting 

their country. Exercising this right can be difficult in the context of joint management 

arrangements and the legislated role of the Board in making decisions about the Park. 

Some traditional owners have expressed concern that, on occasions, it may not be possible or 

appropriate for them to consider their views on particular issues in the context of a Board 

meeting. This is particularly so if a proposal is likely to have a significant impact primarily on 

the land and marine interests of one group. In such circumstances, the group may request an 

opportunity to meet for the purpose of considering and forming an opinion on a matter before 

the Board is asked to make a decision. 

The Board may, during the life of this Plan, develop and endorse more specific protocols to 

provide guidance on consulting traditional owners and processes for decision making by the 

Board. 


3.0 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC VALUES 

The Park‟s conservation and scientific values derive from: 

the presence of a variety of marine habitats supporting a rich diversity of marine life, 

the occurrence of live coral reefs and seagrass, 

its role as a habitat for dugongs, marine turtles, sea-birds, saltwater crocodiles, reef fish 

and a variety of other animals which inhabit the sea and coastal margins, 

a well-developed benthos (flora and fauna of the ocean floor) in the bays and estuaries 

which are important nursery areas for marine life, and 

a rare and unusual association of coral reef with closed mangrove forest at Popham 

Creek. 

The Park protects habitat for threatened species, including the dugong and six species of 

marine turtle including three species that nest on the beaches of Cobourg Peninsula. The 

Park affords scientists with the opportunity to study these animals and develop strategies for 

their management and conservation across the NT. 

The intertidal zone that forms part of the Sanctuary and the adjacent sub-tidal zone in the 

Marine Park contain the most significant diversity and structure for the known marine benthic 

fauna of the Sanctuary and Marine Park. 

3.1 Marine Habitats and Ecosystems 

The Cobourg Marine Park is known to contain a large number of diverse marine habitats 

including coral reefs, rocky reefs, sand and mudflats, and areas of mangroves, seagrass and 

seaweed. Scientists generally agree that certain areas show a distinctly greater species diversity 

and abundance than others. These include Orontes Reef (just outside the Park) the Sargassum 

beds near Gul Gul (Danger Point) and the fringing reefs near Black Point, Sandy Island I and 

Caiman Creek. 


The semi-enclosed water bodies such as Port Essington and the bays along the coast provide 

a range of marine environments with different salinity and temperature regimes. These 

environments are thought to be of high scientific, conservation, economic education and 

recreational value as they are likely to support diverse habitats that are important nursery 

areas for marine life. Unlike many major bays and harbours along the NT coastline, the bays 

and estuaries at Cobourg Peninsula have restricted freshwater input and therefore scouring of 

benthos in channels is minimal. 

To date, the habitat of the inshore waters of the Marine Park between Vashon Head and 

Danger Point (Gul Gul) including Port Bremmer and the bays of Port Essington have been 

surveyed and studied. Of the areas surveyed, the fringing rocky and coral reefs, and oyster 

beds have been studied in detail. The structure of the rocky and fringing coral reefs within the 

Marine Park is typical of northwest inshore waters. 

In 2001, a network of reef monitoring stations was established on fringing coral reef at Coral 

Bay, Sandy Island I and near Black Point, to monitor changes and impacts to the reefs and to 

improve understanding of these habitats in the Park. The studies show that, despite their 

small size, the coral communities around Sandy Island I and in the bay between Black Point 

and Smith Point are highly diverse in both coral and fish fauna. This study found that the once 

diverse and relatively extensive coral communities at Coral Bay are now in decline. This 

decline may be due to both environmental factors such as coral bleaching and siltation and 

human activities. A study of the effects of coral bleaching events in 2002-03 showed that most 

of the fringing reefs have been severely impacted. In 2003, 90% of live coral cover was lost in 

some areas of the Park. 

3.2 Flora and Fauna 

The mangrove flora of the sanctuary is diverse and includes species that have a restricted 

distribution in the NT. Based on a broad definition of mangroves, there are 51 species in the 

NT. Off these, 35 species have been recorded from the Sanctuary, and it is estimated that a 

further eight species occur within the Marine Park but as yet have not been formally recorded. 

Mangrove areas on the northern coastline of the Marine Park are small in area, while those on 

the protected southern coastline are generally larger and better developed. An extensive area 

of mangroves occurs at the south-east extremity of the Park in the Ilamaryi River system. This 

system represents one of the largest mangrove communities in the NT. The Mangrove Palm 

(Nypa fruticans) occurs at Trepang Bay and is known from only two other locations in the NT. 

The Native Frangipani (Cerbera manghas) is only known from the Cobourg Sanctuary and the 

Wessel Islands. 


There is a broad range of traditional Aboriginal knowledge relating to the mangrove 

communities of the Park. The names and uses of mangrove plants associated with the Iwaidja 

language has been recorded by traditional owners and scientists. 

The Park‟s seagrass beds provide a direct food source for dugongs and turtles, and some fish 

and crustaceans. They also provide an important input into the detrital food chain and act as 

nursery areas for many animals including fish, crustacea and trepang. No systematic survey 

of seagrass communities has been undertaken in the Park, however the presence of a large 

number of dugong in certain areas of the Park would suggest that there is significant seagrass 

habitat. 

Dugong are present in most areas of the Marine Park, however there are some areas where 

the total number and density is particularly high. One of these areas is along the coast from 

Aiton Bay east to Wurgurlu Bay and surrounding Greenhill Island. In this area the density of 

dugong ranges up to 20 animals per square kilometre with the total population estimated to be 

in excess of 1000 animals. 

The Marine Park is considered to be one of the most significant areas for dugong in the NT 

and Australia. Dugongs are classified as near threatened in the NT and are listed under the 

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animal (Bonn Convention). The 

Bonn Convention is an international agreement between many governments including 

Australia to protect wild animals that migrate across international boundaries. 

Cetaceans are common within the Marine Park. Little is known about their distribution, 

abundance and genetic composition. All are listed marine species under the Commonwealth‟s 

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. 

Six species of marine turtle - green, flatback, olive ridley, loggerhead, leatherback, and 

hawksbill - inhabit the waters of the Marine Park. In the NT the loggerhead is listed as 

endangered and the leatherback is listed as vulnerable. The olive ridley, flatback and 

hawksbill turtles are considered to be data deficient (ie not enough is known about the 

populations of these species) in the NT to properly assess their conservation status. As such, 

a more conservative approach to management and further research is warranted. 

The beaches from Black Point around the mainland to opposite Sandy Island II, the Danger 

Point area and the larger islands in the southern area of the Park all have significant numbers 

of marine turtle (mainly the green and flatback) nesting on their beaches. 

The islands and waters of the Cobourg Peninsula are considered to be some of the most 

important flatback nesting areas (along with Bare Sand and Quail Islands off Bynoe Harbour) 


in the NT. Although breeding can occur at any time of year, the majority occurs between May 

and October. 

Nationally, all six species of turtles found in the Marine Park are listed as threatened. The 

loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are listed as endangered and the green, flatback, hawksbill 

and leatherback are listed at a national level. All marine turtle species except the flatback 

turtle are listed on the Bonn Convention (International Convention on Migratory Species). 

Cobourg Peninsula may contain the last regular nesting by leatherback turtles in Australia. 

In other parts of Australia and Indonesia, marine turtle populations are in decline. It is likely 

that marine turtles present in the Marine Park migrate between the Park and other parts of 

Australia and possibly Indonesia. Declines in populations in these areas are likely to be 

reflected in NT populations. 

The Marine Park is also an important feeding ground for several species of seabird with Sandy 

Islands I and II regularly used for breeding by significant numbers of crested terns (low 1000‟s) 

and significant numbers of black-naped terns (100+). The Islands are a nationally significant 

breeding site for crested terns and regionally significant breeding site for black-naped terns. 

Other species such as silver gull, roseate and bridled terns also use these islands to breed but 

not in significant numbers. 

Sandy Islands I and II, along with Seagull Island (off Melville Island also in the NT), are the 

only regular crested tern breeding sites between the Cobourg Peninsula and the Western 

Australian border. 

The breeding seabirds on Sandy Islands I and II are very susceptible to disturbance. The 

mere presence of people in the area causes adult birds to leave their nests, and as a 

consequence mortality rates for young birds are high and successful egg hatching rates are 

lowered. Access to these areas by people needs to be carefully managed. 

A number of the seabirds that use the Marine Park including the black-naped tern are listed on 

international agreements (JAMBA and CAMBA) for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their 

habitats. 

The Estuarine Crocodile is present on Cobourg Peninsula and in the surrounding waters. It is 

classified as a protected species under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. 

Estuarine Crocodiles are also listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). Although numbers are not known, there are sufficient 

numbers of crocodiles in the area to render most forms of water-based recreation hazardous. 


The hard corals are one of the more conspicuous life forms at the seaward end of Port 

Essington and at Orontes Reef (just outside the Park). A total of 136 species have been 

identified, including one probable new species of Acropora (tabular/plate coral). Some of the 

species were of special interest, being otherwise known in Australian waters only from the 

Solitary Islands, off New South Wales. By way of comparison, the Capricorn-Bunker Reefs at 

the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, have only 174 species. Some data is also 

available for the alcyonarians (soft corals) and gorgonians (sea fans) with some 22 genera 

being represented. 

Although diverse communities of fish are known to inhabit the Park, very little appears to be 

known about the establishment or maintenance of the communities or their habitat 

requirements. Appendix 4 lists the 465 nominal species known (including sharks, manta rays 

and stingrays). Nine are new species, including one known only from Coral Bay. The area is 

also the type locality (site from which the species became known to western science) for 21 

species of fish that were collected by the early British expeditions and visitors to Victoria 

Settlement between 1838-49. Many of the fish species occur in the intertidal zone and the 

inshore waters on rocky and coral reefs. Commercial and recreational fishers target a number 

of these fish species in the Park. 

Extensive collections of bryozoans (10-15 species described), annelids (300 species 

described), crustaceans (75 species described including shrimps and crab spp.), molluscs 

(331 species described including gastropod, bivalve and cephalopod spp.) and echinoderms 

(100 species described including crinoid and holothurian spp) were made in the Marine Park. 

Not all of the specimens collected in the Park have been described, however of those 

specimens that have been described, three species of gastropods and three species of 

echinoderms are new records for the NT. The new species of echinoderms are also new to 

Australia. 

After fish species, the most recognised marine species in the Park are probably the rock 

oyster (Sacrostrea cucculata amasa) and mud crab (Scylla serrata). Rock oysters and mud 

crabs are relatively abundant in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park with rock oysters 

generally occurring in the intertidal zone of the Sanctuary and mud crabs occurring in both the 

Marine Park and the Sanctuary. 


4.0 MANAGING FOR ABORIGINAL VALUES 

Cobourg Aboriginal people refer to the Marine Park as sea country. They are connected to 

this sea country through Aboriginal tradition and law and this connection remains an intimate 

part of their everyday existence today. 

Aboriginal tradition and law places cultural rights, responsibilities and obligations on Cobourg 

people including the responsibility and obligation to care for sea country. These rights, 

obligations and responsibilities have been handed on from their ancestors through many 

generations. 

Cobourg people care for sea country by managing and maintaining sacred sites and sites of 

cultural significance through ceremony and ritual and by passing on indigenous knowledge of 

the marine environment, its resources and traditional management to younger generations. 

This knowledge is generally passed on through participation in customary activities including 

ceremony and ritual and hunting and use of marine resources. This is an important cultural 

reason for Cobourg people to continue customary use and management practices. 

Additionally, in a contemporary marine management context, developing commercial and 

employment opportunities from the sustainable use of the Marine Park‟s natural resources is 

important to Cobourg people and stems from their desire to develop a secure economic base 

from their traditional estates. Cobourg Aboriginal people are also interested in developing 

opportunities and capacity within their communities for employment as Parks and Wildlife 

Commission rangers and community based land and sea rangers, in addition to employment 

in commercial fisheries. 

Cobourg Aboriginal people continue to hunt and use marine resources and carry out 

customary management practices in the Marine Park. Finally, managing for Aboriginal values 

also include regulation of outside interests (forces), such as regulation of marine debris, by- 

catch, pearling and impact of recreational and commercial fishing. 


4.1 Traditional Resource Use and Cultural Significance 

Section 122 of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act provides for traditional use of 

land and water by Aboriginal people that have traditional rights. 

Section 53 of the NT Fisheries Act reaffirms the rights of Aboriginal people to continue to use 

the resources of an area of land or water in the traditional manner in which they have done so 

historically. Traditional manner effectively recognises that Aboriginal clans have marine 

estates and have cultural rights and responsibilities in those estates. 

The Marine Park is used extensively by the traditional owners of Cobourg Peninsula. The 

traditional owners generally access the Marine Park and its resources from the outstations that 

have been established on the adjacent Sanctuary. There are currently six outstations 

established on the Sanctuary. Some traditional owners also live on Croker Island and access 

the Marine Park and its resources from there. Dugong, turtle, crabs, fish and shellfish have 

always been an important part of Aboriginal people‟s diet. Additionally, many marine species 

such as dugong and turtle have spiritual, ritual and mythological significance in Aboriginal 

traditions. 

The Park contains a number of sacred sites and sites of significance to the Cobourg people; 

there are dreaming tracks and sacred sites in and under the sea. Whilst the location and 

traditions associated with some of these sites and dreaming tracks have been recorded, many 

more sites remain unrecorded. Much information relating to the traditional management of the 

Marine Park also remains unrecorded and there are concerns that this knowledge will be lost 

with the passing of senior elders. This indigenous knowledge is also important to the 

management of the Marine Park, particularly in relation to managing sacred sites and marine 

species in a culturally appropriate manner. 

Protecting and managing sacred sites and sites of significance in accordance with Aboriginal 

law and tradition is part of the obligation and responsibility of traditional custodians. In a 

Marine Park context, this may include regulating access and activities in some areas of the 

Marine Park. The zoning scheme is the primary management tool used for the management 

of activities and developments in the Cobourg Marine Park. 

Sacred sites are also protected under the provisions of the Northern Territory Aboriginal 

Sacred Sites Act whether they are registered or not. The provisions of the Northern Territory 

Heritage Conservation Act may also provide protection for Aboriginal cultural heritage sites if 

they are listed on the NT Heritage Register. 


4.2 Aboriginal Economic Development 

Of prime importance to the traditional owners of Cobourg Peninsula is the establishment of a 

viable economic base to provide Cobourg Aboriginal people with the ability to live on the 

Sanctuary if they choose and continue traditional cultural practices and obligations for both the 

Marine Park and Sanctuary. 

Generally, opportunities for employment and training for Aboriginal people in the Park include: 

direct employment by the Parks and Wildlife Commission as Rangers and trainees; 

short term employment through Community Development Employment Programs (CDEP) 

for specific land and sea management projects. These projects are generally performed in 

conjunction with Park staff; 

employment through establishment of community based land and sea management ranger 

programs, and 

employment stemming from agreements with commercial operators in the Park, including 

commercial fisheries and pearling operations. 

employment in respect of managing the marine park according to traditional management 

practices. 

Opportunities also exist for employment of individuals in commercial enterprises established 

by the Gurig Association or other representative organisations of the Cobourg Aboriginal 

people. 


5.0 MANAGING FOR HISTORICAL VALUES 

During the life of the Plan the Board will research, record and understand the Aboriginal 

marine history in the Park with emphasis on post contact and contemporary history. 

The use of the Marine Park during the operation of the early European settlement of Fort 

Wellington (1827-29) in Raffles Bay and Victoria Settlement (1838-49) in Port Essington has 

been well documented and is of historic interest. Also of historic interest is the fact that some 

of the first western scientific descriptions and records of NT marine fauna come from 

specimens collected in Port Essington by residents and visitors to Victoria Settlement. 

There are also several known shipwrecks within the Park. All shipwrecks over 75 years old 

are declared historic shipwrecks under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act. The 

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, within the Department of Natural 

Resources, Environment and the Arts, administers this Act. Shipwrecks, which lie within NT 

waters, are also subject to the Heritage Conservation Act administered by the Department 

Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport. 

To date, there are six recorded shipwrecks within the Cobourg Marine Park; four have been 

inspected, seven are known but still unallocated and there are a further five that still remain 

unverified. The inspected wrecks are of European origin, however, there are also thought to 

be Macassan wrecks within the Park. 

The wreck of the Australian off Vashon head is probably the most well known and best 

surveyed wreck in the Marine Park. Information on this wreck is provided as part of the 

display in the cultural centre at Black Point. The wreck of the Australian is still relatively intact, 

enhancing its heritage value. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory has 

prepared a management plan for this wreck. 


The major threat to most wreck sites is physical deterioration due to environmental conditions 

such as oxidation. There is also a potential risk of vandalism and anchor damage. Education 

and controlled access assist in reducing the risk of vandalism and anchor damage. 


6.0 MANAGING FOR TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL VALUES 

The Marine Park is currently used by three categories of visitors; those who are visiting and 

staying at Cobourg Sanctuary, sailors who moor in the area and stay on their boats and guests 

of Seven Spirit Bay Resort at Coral Bay. 

The coastal scenery and opportunities for fishing, including sports and game fishing makes the 

Marine Park attractive. Passive recreational pursuits such as boating, sightseeing and wildlife 

viewing are also popular activities undertaken in the Park. The Park provides ideal conditions 

for sailing and cruising with sheltered waters and safe anchorage for all types of vessels. 

The reefs and wrecks provide interesting and challenging opportunities for scuba divers and 

there are opportunities for observing marine turtles, dolphins and dugong within the Park. To 

date, these significant opportunities for commercial ecotourism activities with the Park have 

not been exploited to any great extent. 

There may also be recreational and tourism opportunities for visitors seeking an indigenous 

cultural experience. These opportunities whilst desired by visitors have not always been able 

to be realised. The board and /or Parks and Wildlife Commission will investigate opportunities 

to facilitate, support, mentor and build aboriginal capacity in the Park. 

6.1 Recreational Fishing and Tourism 

The Park is very attractive for recreational fishing and tourism purposes. It features beautiful 

coastal scenery with safe anchorages for all types of vessels, and offers excellent 

opportunities for pleasure cruising, fishing, and boat trips to various parts of the Cobourg 

Sanctuary, including Victoria Settlement. The sheltered waters are ideal for sailing and are 

within one day‟s journey from Darwin. 


The fishing is particularly good with opportunities for sport and game fishing for mackerel, 

queenfish, trevally, shark, barramundi, snapper and a variety of reef fish. Small sailfish and 

marlin have also been sighted in the Park. Of interest to visitors, and especially to divers, are 

the six known shipwrecks off the coast of the Cobourg Sanctuary. 

Visitors to the Sanctuary often bring small dinghies with them and use these to explore the 

Marine Park and go fishing. Those who do not bring a boat have the option of joining a tour 

boat for fishing and sightseeing, including a visit to the ruins of Victoria Settlement at Port 

Essington. 

Yachtsmen generally moor in sheltered bays, often in Port Essington, and cruise the seas of 

the Marine Park sightseeing, fishing, and in many instances, visiting Victoria Settlement. 

The Seven Spirit Bay Resort at Coral Bay in the Cobourg Sanctuary is a relatively small scale, 

low impact development catering for approximately sixty guests and providing them with a 

variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. 

The Resort runs its own boats and provides guests with a range of activities in the Marine 

Park, including fishing, sightseeing, and sailing. These activities are conducted according to 

the terms of the Marine Park Agreement entered into by the Resort and the Parks and Wildlife 

Commission. Under the terms of an agreement entered into with the Resort interests, the 

Parks and Wildlife Commission has issued the proprietor with a permit, renewable on a five 

yearly basis for the purpose of conducting tourism and tourism-oriented activities. 

The tour operators based at Black Point and Cape Don on the Sanctuary provide sport fishing 

tours within the Marine Park. Sightseeing boat tours to Victoria Settlement are also operated 

from Black Point and the tour operator based at Cape Don has a permit to take clients by boat 

to Popham Creek where they can view corals under a closed canopy of mangroves. 

In recent times, there have been a number of requests for the Board to permit additional 

fishing tour operators to operate in the Park. These requests have come from operators 

wanting permission to conduct „mothership‟ type operations. Such operations do not require 

establishment of land based facilities, however mooring facilities may need to be provided for 

these vessels in some areas of the Marine Park, particularly in areas where there is potential 

for mooring and anchoring to damage important marine habitats and Park values. It is likely 

that the number of these types of requests will increase during the life of the Plan. 

With the possibility of increasing number of large boats and yachts entering the Park, there is 

a need to develop mooring facilities in the more popular locations of the Marine Park. 


The relative presence of coral reefs and the presence and abundance of marine turtles, 

dugong and whales in the Marine Park may provide opportunities for developing tours 

focussed on marine wildlife. These types of tours will require careful management. 

6.2 Shipping and Boating 

The Park presently receives a range of boating traffic including small recreational dinghies, 

sailing and cruising yachts, large naval patrol vessels, vessels used for Park management 

purposes, cruise ships, freight and supply barges, commercial fishing vessels and mother 

ships supplying commercial fishing boats. A major shipping lane is located in the vicinity of 

Cape Don. 

It is anticipated that both powered and sailing craft will increase in numbers in the future. It is 

therefore important that management is able to respond to the varying needs of different 

vessels as well as the potential for oil spills and increased incidence of solid and liquid waste 

disposal. The natural and cultural values of the Park are recognised as a high priority area in 

the NT Oil Spill Response Atlas. 

6.3 Visitor Access and Safety 

A vast majority of visitors access the Cobourg Marine Park via the adjoining Sanctuary. There 

is a limit to the number of vehicles allowed within the Sanctuary at any one time (maximum 20 

vehicles). There are no restrictions on visitor numbers accessing the Marine Park via the sea. 

At this stage, the number of visitors entering the Marine Park via the sea is unknown, but it is 

estimated to be less than 1000 visitors per year. 

The safety of visitors in the Park is of prime importance to the Cobourg traditional owners, the 

Board and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The remote locality of Cobourg Marine Park 

adds to its sense of adventure and self-reliance, but also requires that people take added care 

and caution in planning their visit. 

The weather has a strong influence on the comfort level and safety of people visiting the Park 

and also has a strong bearing on the degree of access to the Park; flooding, strong winds, 

even cyclones and high seas can and do occur between November and April. As such, it 

presents life-threatening hazards to boat users. In addition, the presence of estuarine 

crocodiles, box jellyfish and sharks in the waters presents serious hazards to swimmers and, 

to a lesser extent, to divers. 


While the Board will make every effort to ensure the safety of visitors to the Park, the onus is 

on visitors to comply with the legal requirements of the Ports and Harbour Authority with 

regard to the operation of vessels and with the requirements of the Northern Territory Marine 

Act. Pre-visit information and information provided at the visitor centre in the adjoining 

sanctuary that outlines visitor safety issues and preparedness will help to improve safety in the 

Park. Costs associated with search and rescue arising as a result of carelessness or 

disregard of regulations may be sought from the individuals concerned. 

There are three serviced airstrips in the adjoining Sanctuary including one at Black Point, one 

at Cape Don and one in the vicinity of the Seven Spirit Bay Resort on Coral Bay. In the event 

of an emergency, these airstrips would provide important emergency response capacity and 

medical evacuation capacity. 


7.0 MANAGING FOR ECONOMIC VALUES 

7.1 Commercial Fishing 

A variety of commercial fishing operations take place within the boundaries of the Marine Park. 

These include net fishing for sharks and barramundi, longline fishing for sharks, drop lining 

and trapping of finfish, mud crab fishing, mackerel trolling and to a much lesser degree reef 

fishing. Commercial hand harvesting of trepang (sea cucumber) also takes place in the 

Marine Park. 

NT Fisheries in consultation with key stakeholders manage the sustainable use of marine 

resources in the Marine Park under the NT Fisheries Act. To achieve this, a number of 

management strategies are used including limiting the number of licences, catch shares based 

on estimated sustainable catch, restrictions on fishing gear and areas of operation restrictions, 

as well as seasonal closures. Each of the fisheries that operate in the Park is currently 

managed using one of more of these mechanisms. In addition, a number of the fisheries 

operating within the Marine Park, including the Northern Prawn, Spanish Mackerel, Offshore 

Net and Line, Trepang and Mud Crab Fisheries, have been assessed by the Department of 

Environment and Heritage under the EPBC Act as sustainable and have been licensed to 

continue to export. 

There is currently little information available on the impact of commercial fishing operations on 

the flora and fauna and ecosystems within the Marine Park. Fisheries conducts research and 

monitoring of the commercial fishing industry in the NT. This research and monitoring includes 

research into the biology of important commercial species, collection of data on fish stocks and 

collection of data on fishing catch and effort. If managed fisheries are to be sustainable in the 

Marine Park, more site specific monitoring and research will be required such as information 

on the levels of commercial fishing effort from commercial fishers operating within the Park. 


The Northern Prawn Fishery also operates within the Marine Park, although catch and effort 

information suggest, that areas outside the boundary of the Marine Park are likely to be of 

greater importance to the Northern Prawn Fishery. The Northern Prawn Fishery is managed 

by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 

and the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan. In general, prawn trawling takes place at 

depths of 10-80 metres over mud or sandy bottom. Historically, prawn trawling has occurred 

within Port Essington and Port Bremer. 

It is known that prawn trawling generally has a substantial by-catch. The introduction of turtle 

exclusion devices (TED) has reduced the incidence of marine turtle and other large marine 

species by-catch however large numbers of other smaller non-target species are caught and 

discarded. The impact of this by-catch on fish stocks in the Marine Park is not known. The 

Northern Prawn Fishery is also developing by-catch reduction devices to reduce the amount of 

small by-catch in the fishery. 

The Board is also concerned about the impact of prawn trawling on the Park‟s benthic 

environment. Currently CSIRO is conducting a study on the effects of trawling on benthos in 

the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Board would like similar research to be undertaken within the 

Park. 

A considerable amount of discarded net and other marine debris is washed ashore. Most of 

the nets are of Asian origin however some is from Australian fisheries. Marine debris, 

including discarded nets, presents a significant threat to marine species such as marine 

turtles. 

The code of practice for individual commercial fisheries requires commercial fishermen to 

collect and dispose of discarded gear and debris. The codes of practice also require that any 

accidental loss of gear be reported to the appropriate authorities immediately and all attempts 

are made to retrieve the gear. 

Traditional owners have expressed interest in participating in commercial fishing industry in 

the Marine Park and more generally. Traditional owners should continue to be encouraged to 

participate in sustainable commercial fishing operations. 

It is important that use of the Marine Park, including use by all commercial fishing interests, is 

consistent with the overall objectives of the management of the Marine Park. 


7.2 Pearling 

The pearling industry within Australia‟s northern waters is recognised as one of the best in the 

world. The main areas of pearling activity in the NT are Bynoe Harbour, Cobourg Peninsula 

and English Company Islands. The pearling industry has operated in Northern Territory 

waters since the late 19 th Century. Diving for pearl shells probably occurred in the waters off 

Cobourg Peninsula from the early 1940‟s until the mid 1950‟s when the pearl shell industry 

declined. Pearling leases for the cultured pearl industry in the waters surrounding the 

Cobourg Peninsula were first granted in 1979 although pearl farms were operating at Cobourg 

before this time. These pearling leases were granted before the Marine Park was declared in 

1983 and these leases do not form part of the Marine Park. 

Pearl culture in the NT is open water farming. Pearl oysters, either collected from the wild or 

hatchery reared, are impregnated with “nuclei” which stimulates the pearl oyster to cover it 

with nacre. Seeded oysters are normally suspended in panels that are attached to floating 

long-lines within a pearling lease area. Quality pearls are retrieved from the oyster after 

approximately two years. 

Within the area bounded by the Cobourg Marine Park, pearling lease areas exist in Port 

Bremer, Raffles Bay, Berkley Bay as well as Knocker and Curlew Bays in Port Essington. 

However, these lease areas are leasehold areas and as such do not form part of the Marine 

Park. The pearling lease site in Raffles Bay is directly adjacent to an outstation living area. 

There is great potential for increased use of the Marine Park for pearling culture. However, 

any future pearling lease areas will be subject to this Plan of Management and Aboriginal 

aspirations to participate in this industry. 

7.3 Aquaculture 

There are currently no aquaculture practices being undertaken within the boundaries of the 

Cobourg Marine Park. However, there are certain characteristics of this area and the adjacent 

sanctuary, which make the Marine Park potentially attractive for aquaculture purposes. Such 

characteristics include numerous indented bays, sheltered conditions, close proximity to 

Darwin and its relatively small population. Potential viable aquaculture opportunities may 

include (but not limited to) coastal mariculture for edible oysters, ranching practices for trepang 

and sponge culture. 

In accordance with this Plan of Management, aquaculture is only allowed, by permit, in the 

Multiple Use A, Multiple Use B and Port Essington Zones of the Marine Park. 


Aquaculture may provide opportunities for traditional owners to develop partnerships with 

commercial fishery operators and help to fulfil their desire to build a more secure economic 

future for residents and traditional owners of the Cobourg Peninsula. 

7.4 Mining and Exploration 

There are currently no operations for the recovery of minerals in the Park, nor any mining 

permits or petroleum exploration licences over the Marine Park. Proposals for mineral 

resource recovery and exploration in the waters in the Park have the potential to impact upon 

the Park values. These activities may also impact nationally threatened species and migratory 

species listed under international treaties and conventions. 

Under the provisions of the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park 

Act, the Board may provide advice to the Minister for Parks and Wildlife Commission on 

matters relating to the exploration and recovery or proposals for the exploration and recovery 

of minerals from the Marine Park. 


8.0 MANAGING FOR EDUCATIONAL VALUES 

To adequately manage visitors and help to ensure their safety within the Marine Park, 

provision of appropriate communication programs that provide clear directions, orientation and 

information is essential. A range of educational and interpretive material has been developed 

for both the Marine Park and the Sanctuary to assist the Traditional Aboriginal Owner‟s with 

educational and interpretative tourism opportunities. The Board will continue to monitor and 

improve interpretive material for the Park. 

It is recognised that there is a need for more information about the Marine Park so that visitors 

may appreciate the range of recreational opportunities available and the management strategy 

being adopted to conserve the values of the Park. By increasing public awareness of the 

area, its enjoyment by visitors can be improved while at the same time increasing the 

protection afforded to the Marine Park‟s natural resources. Additionally, explaining the 

reasons for management practices can increase the level of compliance with Park regulations. 

The lifestyle and culture of the Aboriginal people, and opportunities for contact with Cobourg 

Aboriginal people, especially in regard to their use of the Marine Park, represents an added 

dimension to the Park. Aspects of Aboriginal culture, lifestyle and resource use are of 

considerable interest to the visiting public. 


9.0 STRATEGIES FOR MANAGEMENT 

9.1 Zoning Scheme 

The Zoning Scheme for the Park is one of the major strategies used in pursuing the intent of 

the Plan and provides a broad basis for the management of activities and developments within 

defined zones. This is to ensure that the uses of the Park are compatible with the overall 

objectives and values for management of the Marine Park (Section 2). 

The Board, Parks and Wildlife Commission, traditional owners of land and sea in the region 

and Fisheries Group have developed the zoning scheme in co-operation with key stakeholder 

groups including commercial, recreational fishing and pearling interests. 

It is intended that this zoning scheme and other management strategies will be mirrored in the 

Cobourg Marine Park Fishery Management Area Management Plan prepared under part 3 of 

the Northern Territory Fisheries Act. 

The following management zones have been developed to assist in the regulation and 

management of the Marine Park. 

Multiple Use A Zone 

Multiple Use B Zone 

Port Essington Zone 

Conservation Zone 

Scientific Reference Zone 

Coral Bay Zone 

Outstation Privacy Area Zone 

There are currently six outstations in the Sanctuary adjacent to the Marine Park; Araru, 

Ardbinae, Gumuragi, Gul Gul, Meriah and Irgul. 


The traditional owners of Cobourg Peninsula and surrounding marine areas acknowledge the 

interests of various stakeholders in the use and enjoyment of the Park. However, they also 

wish to ensure a degree of privacy in the vicinity of their outstations, including adjacent marine 

areas. Consequently, they have requested the establishment of Outstation Privacy Area Zones 

in the Marine Park. This request has been supported by the Board and is reflected in the Park 

zoning scheme. 

The Park Zoning Scheme is provided at Figure 2. A description of the management zones, 

management objectives and strategies is provided in Table 1. A list of the uses and activities 

within each zone is outlined in Table 2. A description of the zones by way of co-ordinates is 

outlined in Schedule 1. 

The Park Zoning Scheme will be legislated pursuant to existing Territory and Commonwealth 

Legislation. That is, the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, Fisheries Act, Cobourg 

Peninsula Aboriginal, Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act, Marine Act and the 

Commonwealth Fisheries Act unless otherwise stated. Activities and access to the Outstation 

privacy zone will not be legislated. 

The regulation of activities and access within any of the zones may be adjusted if activities or 

access is shown to be inconsistent with the objectives of the Park and where values are 

threatened. 


TABLE 1: COBOURG MARINE PARK SUMMARY OF ZONES 

MANAGEMENT ZONE PURPOSE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ACCESS 

Multiple Use A 

Multiple Use B 

Port Essington 

Conservation 

To provide for multiple use of the 

park‟s resources including more 

intensive commercial fishing 

activities, protection of important 

conservation and scientific values 

and sustainable use of natural 

resources 

To provide for multiple use of the 

park‟s resources including less 

intensive commercial fishing 

activities, protection of important 

conservation and scientific values 

and sustainable use of natural 

resources 

To provide for a higher level of 

protection of marine biodiversity 

and habitats, and significant 

cultural heritage sites in an area of 

the Marine Park that sustains a 

higher level of visitor/ recreation 

use. 

To protect significant species and 

their habitat including dugong and 

marine turtle populations. 

Cobourg Marine Park Plan of Management – August 2011 

To provide appropriate areas for more 

intensive commercial fishing activities such 

as prawn trawling and netting and establish 

cooperative monitoring programs to monitor 

and manage those fisheries in the Park. 

Undertake research to better understand the 

values of this part of the Park. 

To provide appropriate areas for less 

intensive commercial fishing activities and 

establish cooperative monitoring programs 

to monitor and manage those fisheries in the 

Park. Undertake research to better 

understand the values of this part of the 

Park. 

Limit the range of commercial and 

recreational activities to those consistent with 

higher levels of visitor use. Establish cooperative 

monitoring programs and research 

to improve management and knowledge of 

the values of this part of the Park. Hand 

harvest of Trepang is permitted in this zone 

by agreement with Traditional Owners. 

To provide a high level of protection to the 

conservation values within the zone by 

limiting commercial, recreational and 

traditional owner activities and providing a 

focus for conservation initiatives. 

Uses consistent with Park management 

objectives and values will be permitted to 

continue. Scope has been provided for 

future aquaculture prospects. These will be 

considered on a case by case basis. 

Uses consistent with Park management 

objectives and values will be permitted to 

continue. Commercial netting, trawling and 

longlining is not permitted in this zone. 

Recreational drag netting is not permitted in 

this zone. Scope has been provided for 

continued fishing and non-extractive 

tourism, as well as aquaculture prospects. 

These will be considered on a case by case 

basis. 

Commercial fishing is restricted to trepang 

fishing only in this area. Recreational drag 

netting, crab potting and spearfishing is not 

permitted in this zone. Scope has been 

provided for continued fishing and nonextractive 

tourism, as well as aquaculture 

prospects. These will be considered on a 

case by case basis. 

No commercial or recreational fishing and 

no fishing tourism. Provision is made for 

non-extractive tours to be undertaken on a 

permit basis. No traditional hunting of turtle 

or dugong. Speed restriction of max 15 

knots on motor boats in order to reduce 

incidence of dugong and turtle strikes. 

Anchoring and mooring will only be 

permitted on a permit basis. 

30

MANAGEMENT ZONE PURPOSE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ACCESS 

Scientific Reference 

Coral Bay 

Outstation Privacy Areas * 

To provide special protection to 

areas of high ecological 

significance and monitor condition 

over time. To protect sites of 

Aboriginal cultural significance. 

To provide privacy to resort guests 

at Seven Spirit Bay Resort at 

Coral Bay. 

To protect the privacy of the 

Traditional Owners in the vicinity 

of their outstations and to provide 

for traditional Aboriginal resource 

use. 


Limit and regulate access. Establish 

research and monitoring programs for 

significant ecosystems and habitat. Manage 

Aboriginal sites of significance in accordance 

with relevant Commonwealth and NT 

legislation and in accordance with directions 

from Traditional Owners. 

Manage the area in accordance with the 

Lease Agreement and Marine Park 

Agreement. Access restricted to Seven Spirit 

Bay Resort staff and guests only. 

Through educational and promotional 

initiatives, enhance public awareness to 

ensure the protection of privacy for residents 

at outstations established on the sanctuary. 

Activities in this zone will not be regulated 

through legislation. Vessels may traverse 

zone, no fishing or anchoring (except in 

emergency). The number of outstation 

privacy areas is restricted to a maximum of 

eight within the life of this plan. 

Highly restrictive access in order to protect 

values of outstanding scientific and 

conservation significance. Access by 

permit only. 

Fishing Tourism opportunities, day use 

anchorage and traditional owner use will be 

permitted. Speed restriction of max 15 

knots on motor boats in order to reduce 

incidence of dugong and turtle strikes. 

Anchoring and mooring will only be 

permitted on a permit basis. 

Through education and promotion enhance 

public awareness of the range of activities 

to provide for traditional Aboriginal resource 

use and to protect the privacy of the 

Traditional Owners in the vicinity of their 

outstations. Vessels may traverse zone, no 

fishing or anchoring (except in emergency 

conditions). 

* the outstation privacy area surrounding the Meriah outstation does not form part of the Marine Park however the same respect for traditional owner privacy should 

be exercised as per the other outstation privacy areas. 

31

TABLE 2: USES AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN EACH ZONE 

ZONING SCHEME Multiple Use A Multiple Use B Port Essington Conservation 


Scientific 

Reference 

Coral Bay 

Outstation 

Privacy Areas* 

COMMERCIAL 

Prawn Trawling Yes No No No No No No 

Netting (all types) Yes No No No No No No 

Longlining Yes No No No No No No 

Line fishing Yes Yes No No No No No 

Fish Trawling No No No No No No No 

Crab potting Yes Yes No No No No No 

Aquaculture Permit Permit Permit No No No No 

Hand harvest (eg trepang) Yes Yes Yes 1 No No No No 

Aquarium collecting 2 Yes Yes No No No No No 

RECREATIONAL 

Line fishing Yes Yes Yes No No No No 

Crab potting Yes Yes No No No No No 

Cast netting Yes Yes Yes No No No No 

Drag netting (baitnet) Yes No No No No No No 

Hand harvest (eg shellfish) Yes Yes Yes No No No No 

Spearfishing Yes Yes No No No No No 

Diving (non extractive) Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 5 No 

Boating Yes Yes Yes Yes 3 No No Yes (traverse) 

OTHER ACTIVITIES 

Traditional owner use Yes Yes Yes Yes 4 Yes Yes Yes 

Anchoring & moorings Yes Yes Yes Permit Permit Permit Permit 

Authorized research Permit Permit Permit Permit Permit Permit Permit 

Fishing Tour Operator Permit Permit Yes No Permit Yes 5 No 

Day Use Anchorage Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 5 No 

Non Extractive Tours Permit Permit Permit Permit Permit No No 

1 Port Essington remains open for hand harvest of trepang subject to the agreement between Traditional Owners and the trepang licencee. 

2 A review of management arrangements for aquarium fish collecting is to be conducted if in any one year four or more aquarium collectors‟ licences become active. 

3 15 knot limit on motorised craft. 

4 No traditional hunting of dugong and turtle. 

5 Visitors (clients, staff and staff guests) of Seven Spirit Bay Resort and approved and licenced fishing tour operators only. 

*Compliance with uses and activities in the Outstation Privacy Areas will be promoted through education not legislation. 

32

FIGURE 2 

GARIG GUNAK BARLU 

COBOURG MARINE PARK ZONING SCHEME 

LEGEND 

CAPE 

DON 

# 

ALCARO 

BAY 

Multiple Use A Zone 

Multiple Use B Zone 

Port Essington Zone 

Conservation Zone 

POP HAM BAY 

Î 

Aboriginal Outstation Privacy Zone 

Coral Bay Buffer Zone 

Pearling Leases 

(Excluded from park) 

Lingi 

Point 

Scientific Reference Zone 

Blac k# 

Allaru Island 

Point 

Mid jar i 

GUM U R AGI 

Po int 

# 

Araru 

Î 

Walford 

Point 

CORAL 

Point 

AR AR U BAY 

Ree f 

# 

Low 

Po int 

Po int Turtle 

Î 

Point 

KENNEDY 

BLUE MUD 

TREPANG BAY 

BA Y 

BAY 

# 

AR DB IN AE 

AITON BAY 

Topographic data obtained from the Information 

Services Section, D epartm ent of Inf rastructure, 

Planning and E nv ironment. 

CAU TIO N: R oads are repres entative only. D o 

not treat as acc urate. 


SHARK 

BAY 

High Black 

Rock 

SHAMROCK 

BAY 

Wan ar aij 

Po int 

Va sh on 

Hea d 

SILVID 

BAY 

Burford 

Island 

ARAFURA SEA 

TW O HILLS 

BA Y 

CURL EW 

BAY 

Cur lew 

Point 

Kangaroo 

Point 

KNOCK ER 

BAY 

Be df or d 

Hea d 

Smith 

Point 

PO R T ES SIN G TO N 

Fa lse Tu rt le 

Po int 

Warigili Point 

Oyster 

Point 

GUL GU L 

# 

# MER IA H 

GARIG GUNAK BARLU NATIONAL PARK 

Greenh ill 


Î 

Spear 

Point 

Min to 

Hea d 

Ad am 

Hea d 

Rec ord 

Point 

Wan ge wan ja Cove 

Mangrov e 

Point 

BERKE LEY 

BAY 

Ta ble 

Hea d 

Wes t 

Ba y 

Warla 


Sa ndy Island 

No. 1 

BARROW BAY 

East 

Bay 

Ku pe r 

Po int 

P O RT BR E MER 

St ewa rt 

Po int 

Wang oindju ng 


Warldag aw aji 


Ed wa rds 

Po int 

LIZ ARD 

BAY 

WURGURLU 

BAY 

Ea st 

St atio n 

Po int 

SIR G E ORG E H O PE 

ISLA ND S 

Sa ndy Island 

No. 2 

Danger 

Point 

Morse 


WANGARLU 

B AY 

Wu nmiyi 


VAN DIEMEN GULF 

D'Urville Point 

RAFFLES 

BA Y 

High 

Point 

BO W E N 

Mogo gou t Is land 

Giles 

Po int 

STR A IT 

IR GUL 

# 

Irg ul 

Po int 

# 

Cobourg Marine Park 

Boundary 

Coastline 

Low W ater Mark 

(Approx.) 

Territorial 

Sea Baseline 

Road 

Fence 

Outstation 

Î Preferred Anchorages 

Guia lun g 

Po int 

N 

5 0 5 10 

KIL OME TRE S 

Map Produc ed by Park s and W ildlife Serv ice. AU GU ST 2004 

33

All commercial operations are required to operate under a permit, lease, licence and/or 

concession agreement issued by the Board and/or under the provisions of the NT 

Fisheries Act. The Board may approve the issuing of leases, licences and permits in 

accordance with the provisions of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Bylaws. 

The leases, licences or concession agreements specify conditions associated with the 

operation of commercial activities within the Park. 

A permit from the Cobourg Board is required to undertake the following activities in part 

of or all of the Marine Park: 

Commercial Aquaculture (including future pearling activities) 

Research 

Fishing Tour Operations (including the use of motherships) 

Non Extractive Tours (sightseeing/wildlife viewing tours) 

Anchoring and Mooring 

(refer to Table 1 Uses and Activities Permitted within each Zone for details). 

The Director of Fisheries will consider any aspirations or issues raised by the Board 

when requested to issue aquaculture permits for the Park. 

Individuals, institutions, groups or companies wanting to undertake one or more of these 

activities in areas of the Marine Park where a permit is required will need to apply to the 

Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board for a permit. 

In assessing an application, the Board will take account of the following: 

Benefit to management of the Marine Park; 

Benefit to residents of the Park and members of the group; 

Protection of natural and cultural values; 

Adequacy of information provided in the application; 

Existing arrangements or operations; 

Likely impact on management operations of the Park; 

Provisions of this Plan of Management; 

Requirement for Environmental Assessment; 

Provisions of the Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land, Sanctuary and Marine Park Act 

and other relevant Legislation; 


34

Permits and/or licence requirements of other management authorities; 

Area, location and time of operation; 

The number of persons permitted to undertake activity at any one time 

The number and type of equipment that can be used; 

Facilities that can be used; 

Specific environmental requirements (eg type and number of species that can be 

taken and requirement to prepare environmental management plan); 

Specific access requirements (eg route that can be taken, access site to be used, 

area to be used for mooring or anchoring); 

Reporting requirements; and 

Fees and royalty payments. 

The Board will not be limited to considering only these elements of an application and 

the processes and timeframe for assessing an application will vary depending on the 

type of activity and specific proposals in the application. The Board will however, 

undertake a transparent and open, fair and equitable process in its assessment of 

applications. 

In approving a specific operation or use, the Board may set conditions in regards to the 

permit. The range of conditions applied to a permit will vary depending on the specific 

proposal. An open, consistent and transparent process will be undertaken in negotiating 

with applicants the conditions applied to each permit. The Board will endeavour to 

maintain consistency in permit conditions wherever possible and appropriate. When 

assessing applications to conduct research, the Board should take into account 

compliance with existing relevant ethical guidelines and protocols. 

The Board shall determine the tenure of a permit, having due regard for other legislative 

requirements. 


35

9.2 Other Management Strategies 

9.2.1 Conservation and Scientific Values 

i) Establishment of a working group to identify and coordinate research and monitoring 

activities within the Park. A primary function of the group will be to remedy current 

deficiencies in knowledge about the natural environment and human impact on the 

ecosystems of the Park. Areas that the working group may wish to investigate 

include: 

mapping of marine environments and habitats of the Park, particularly coral reefs 

and seagrass beds; 

investigation of the cultural importance of the Park and Aboriginal use of marine 

resources; 

investigation of the significance of bays and estuaries as breeding areas for 

marine life; 

research into the invertebrates of the Park; 

long term and short term monitoring of commercial (including fishing tour 

operators) and recreational fishing, including possible changes in the fish 

resource, and the prawn catch, effect of fishing on reef areas, and the effects of 

trawlers and commercial fishing on dugong, turtles and other marine wildlife and 

habitats; 

monitoring for water quality; 

Monitoring of marine debris; 

location and survey of historic shipwrecks; and 

traditional management practices and its incorporation into marine park 

management. 

ii) The Parks and Wildlife Commission will establish a mapping program to identify and 

characterise the marine environments, substrata and habitats of the Park. 

Information obtained from the mapping program will be used to identify significant 

habitat and to develop research and monitoring programs and management 

strategies for significant marine habitat and species in the Marine Park. 

iii) Monitoring and survey of rocky reefs and coral reefs will continue as a matter of 

priority in the Park. 

iv) Develop a mooring policy for the Marine Park. 


36

v) An oil spill emergency response plan will be prepared for the Park detailing 

procedures to be followed in the event of a spill. 

vi) The management of the intertidal areas of the Sanctuary with the adjacent areas of 

the Marine Park will be integrated through the development of complementary 

management strategies and zoning in the Sanctuary Plan of Management. 

vii) The Parks and Wildlife Commission, in cooperation with the Cobourg Board and 

Park‟s traditional Aboriginal owners, custodians, and park residents will develop a 

monitoring program of traditional resource use within the Marine Park. The program 

will assist in establishing sustainable use of marine resources and assist in 

incorporating traditional management practices into marine management. 

viii) The Board will employ Aboriginal people in the researching and monitoring 

programs for the Park, particularly programs that aim to establish sustainable 

traditional harvesting and commercial harvesting and will identify commercial 

opportunities for aboriginal people in harvesting marine resources. 

ix) The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory will be encouraged to 

continue with its research into the fauna and flora of Cobourg Marine Park, with a 

particular focus on Port Essington. Close liaison will be maintained to ensure that 

the Museum‟s work is integrated with the overall Research and Monitoring Program, 

and that the results are made available for Park management purposes. 

x) Other research bodies such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science and 

Charles Darwin University will be encouraged to assist in the conduct of priority projects 

in the Park. 

xi) Detailed proposals of all research and monitoring projects will require Board 

approval before any field work commences. Project proposals should provide 

information on the purpose and significance of the project, areas of the Park to be 

visited, procedures to be adopted, equipment to be used, likely impacts on the Park 

and the duration of the project. The Board in reaching a decision on any proposal 

will consider: 

desirability of the research from the traditional owners‟ point of view, 

benefits which may flow to the traditional owners in conducting the research, 


37

the extent to which the proposal fits within the framework of this Plan of 

Management, 

the professional status of the researcher (or researcher‟s supervisor), 

the potential for impacts on the Park‟s cultural and natural resources, and 

its relevance to Park management. 

In providing approval for a research or monitoring project, the Board will specify 

any restrictions on movements and activities of the research personnel. Failure 

to comply with these requirements may result in the withdrawal of approval for 

the project to continue. A report on the research undertaken and summary of the 

results must be submitted to the Board, at the completion of the project. 

9.2.2 Aboriginal Values 

i) Within the constraints imposed by existing agreements with the Seven Spirit Bay 

Resort, the traditional owners of Cobourg Peninsula will be encouraged to develop 

appropriate tourist enterprises which provide a wider variety of experiences for 

visitors together with an appreciation of Aboriginal culture. 

ii) The Parks and Wildlife Commission will encourage the integration of Aboriginal 

tourist-based enterprises. This will be an important consideration in reaching 

decisions about commercial operations in the Park. 

iii) Joint venture style commercial operations will be encouraged. 

iv) If requested the Parks and Wildlife Commission will assist the traditional custodians 

in the care, management and control of Aboriginal sites of significance in 

accordance with their direction. If requested the Board and Parks and Wildlife 

Commission will facilitate the recording and registration of sacred sites under the 

provisions of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act. 

v) The Board will assist the traditional owners in having their history and cultural 

heritage, including sites of significance, documented according to their wishes. In 

most instances, this will mean referral to outside authorities or experts, in particular, 

the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. This documentation will be undertaken 

under conditions specified by the Board and the resulting information may be used 

to guide Park management or for interpretive purposes, but only in so far as the 

traditional custodians permit. 


38

vi) The Parks and Wildlife Commission will employ and train Aboriginal people as 

rangers in the Park in accordance with the Commission‟s Indigenous Employment 

Strategy. 

vii) Wherever possible, the number of Aboriginal employees and opportunities for 

different kinds of employment in the Park will be increased. Where there are 

opportunities for part-time, temporary or contract employment, the Parks and 

Wildlife Commission will, in the first instance, employ qualified and experienced 

Aboriginal people. 

viii) The Board will develop a program for the employment of Aboriginal people in 

management of the Marine Park including using CDEP and community ranger 

programs. 

ix) If requested the Board and Parks and Wildlife Commission will assist traditional 

owners in establishing a community sea ranger program for the Park. 

x) In order to provide privacy in the vicinity of Aboriginal living areas and to meet 

obligations under the Marine Park Agreement entered into with the proprietor of the 

Seven Spirit Bay Resort, some areas will be accessible only by permit. 

xi) The Board may further regulate access to any areas within the Park if it becomes 

apparent that such access is having a negative impact on values of the Park. 

9.2.3 Historical Values 

i) The Board will be responsible for setting guidelines and conditions for scuba diving 

on wrecks within the Marine Park. 

ii) Consideration will be given to identifying and installing safe anchoring and/or 

mooring facilities in the vicinity of wrecks. 

iii) Removal of artefacts and damaging of wrecks is not permitted. 

iv) All survey and protection work on historic shipwrecks will be in accordance with the 

Historic Shipwrecks Act and the Heritage Conservation Act. 


39

9.2.4 Tourism and Recreational Fishing Values 

i) All recreational fishing activities will be managed in accordance with the Park Zoning 

Scheme and relevant NT and Commonwealth legislation. 

ii) Visitor access and activities will be regulated in accordance with the Park‟s Zoning 

Scheme. 

iii) Changes to the management practices or licensing arrangements for recreational 

fishing in the Marine Park will be developed through a cooperative process and in 

consultation with the key stakeholder groups. 

iv) Recreational fishing surveys will be undertaken within the Park within the life of this 

plan. 

v) All boats entering the Marine Park must comply with relevant Commonwealth and 

NT boating and shipping regulations. 

vi) Information will be provided to ships and boats operating in the Park about safety 

requirements, access and zoning and conditions of use including waste disposal 

regulations within the Marine Park. 

vii) A Visitor Safety and Disaster Contingency Plan will be prepared for the Park. The 

Plan will take into account the following: 

provision of printed information and signs relating to hazards in the Park 

including crocodiles, box jellyfish, sharks, snakes and potential driving and 

boating hazards, 

the provision of safety information with regard to cyclones, 

the inclusion of safety warnings on permits and booking slips issued to visitors, 

the provision of information on general safety procedures with regard to boating 

and vehicle transport, 

safety and emergency procedures to be adopted, 

staff training in first aid and search and rescue procedures. 

viii) Safety standards will be followed in all aspects of Park management. 


40

ix) The Park Zoning Scheme designates preferred sites for anchoring within the Park 

based on natural and cultural values. Boat owners are encouraged to use these 

sites. 

x) Discharge of solid and liquid waste is prohibited in the Marine Park under the 

provisions of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Bylaws. 

xi) Dumping of bilge water or disposal of waste from boats is not be permitted within the 

Marine Park. 

xii) During the life of the plan, the Board will give consideration to establishing approved 

procedures for disposing of bilge water and waste by visitors to the area. 

xiii) The carrying of firearms or ammunition in the Park by visitors is regulated under the 

Bylaws, except in the case of the traditional owners of the Sanctuary for purposes of 

hunting traditional food sources. All persons must comply with the provisions of the 

Northern Territory Firearms Act. 

xiv) Recreational diving is permitted within the Marine Park under the provisions of the 

Park Zoning Scheme. Where diving is permitted, there is to be no site disturbance 

and no material is to be carried away. 

xv) Parks and Wildlife Commission rangers will have the right to inspect and monitor 

tourism and recreational activities being undertaken within the Marine Park. 

xvi) All fishing tour operations including those regulated under the provisions of the NT 

Fisheries Act are required to operate under a permit, lease, licence and/or 

concession agreement issued by the Board. Leases, licences and permits are 

issued under the provisions of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Bylaws. 

The leases, licences or concession agreements will specify conditions associated 

with the operation of commercial activities within the Park. In approving the issuing 

of leases, permits and concessions the Board will take account of the following: 

potential impacts on the Park‟s natural and cultural values and the possible 

need for environmental protection measures and the preparation of an 

Environmental Impact Statement, 

employment and income earning opportunities for the Park‟s traditional owners, 


41

protection of sites and relics of historical significance, 

maintenance of scenic and recreational values, 

potential impacts on health, safety, social and cultural issues, 

the capacity of the company to carry out the agreement in accordance with the 

values of the park and comply with the legal and management requirements. 

9.2.5 Economic Values 

i) Commercial fisheries operating in the Marine Park will be managed in accordance 

with the Park Zoning Scheme / Fisheries Management Area Management Plan and 

relevant NT and Commonwealth legislation. 

ii) Any changes to the management practices or licensing arrangements for 

commercial fisheries operating in the Marine Park will be developed through a co- 

operative process and in consultation with the key stakeholder groups. 

iii) Any mining or exploration proposals in relation to the Park must be conducted in 

accordance with the relevant NT and Commonwealth legislation including the 

Northern Territory Environmental Assessment Act and the Commonwealth EPBC 

Act. 

iv) The board will encourage and support Aboriginal involvement in commercial 

fisheries, pearling and aquaculture operations in the park. 

v) The Board will seek to have biologically important areas of the Park such as the 

Conservation Zone and Scientific Reference Zones reserved from occupation of 

mining. 

vi) In accordance with Section 34A of the Act, the Board in consultation with the 

Cobourg Fisheries Management Area Advisory Committee (CFMAAC) may consider 

the impact of mineral recovery and exploration in the waters surrounding the Marine 

Park and provide appropriate advice to the Minister responsible for the Mining Act. 

9.2.6 Educational Values 

i) A Communication Plan will be developed for the Park in consultation with the Board 

and traditional owners. The Plan will clearly identify: 


42

stakeholders and audience, 

resources for interpretation, 

messages and interpretive themes, 

media, communication techniques and sites, and 

evaluation techniques. 

ii) The Communication Plan will: 

provide opportunities for visitors to gain an understanding and appreciation of the 

values of the Marine Park; 

increase visitor awareness and appreciation of the variety and significance of 

marine life and habitats; 

include messages that encourage a low impact ethos in the Marine Park and 

inform visitors about potential threatening processes in the Park; 

increase public awareness of the importance of the Marine Park in protecting 

marine biodiversity; 

include strategies to ensure that accurate information about the Park‟s special 

cultural significance, physical features and joint management arrangements are 

presented to visitors; 

include strategies to ensure that visitors receive adequate information and advise 

on the hazards and risks present in parts of the Park or associated with certain 

activities; 

include strategies to ensure that traditional owners have opportunities to directly 

interpret their culture and traditions for visitors; and 

make provision for interpretive training for interested traditional owners. 

iii) Efforts will be made in the Communication Plan to increase visitor awareness and 

appreciation of Aboriginal culture and lifestyle. 

iv) Pre-visit information will be made available to intending visitors informing them of 

permit requirements, safety precautions and other relevant information to better 

prepare them for their visit. 

v) Provision will be made for the traditional owners, in so far as they wish, to be 

involved in the interpretation of the Park and to communicate to visitor‟s aspects of 

Aboriginal lifestyle and culture. This may provide an opportunity for traditional 

owners to develop commercial tourism opportunities relating to visitor education. 


43

vi) The Park‟s traditional owners will be consulted in the development of the 

educational and interpretive program for the Park, and will have the right to 

determine its Aboriginal content. 

vii) Interpretative measures will be used, where appropriate, to inform visitors of any 

restrictions on their access to or use of certain areas and to bring relevant bylaws or 

other regulations to their attention in a positive way. These measures will include an 

explanation of the reasons underlying such regulations and restrictions. 


44

10.0 ENFORCEMENT OF THE PLAN 

The Plan of Management for the Marine Park will be enforced by the Parks and Wildlife 

Commission rangers as well as the Police, Marine and Fisheries Enforcement Unit. 

Opportunities for greater involvement of traditional owners to contribute to the 

enforcement and education of the general public on the permitted uses of the Park will 

be investigated and supported during the life of the Plan by the Board. The Fisheries 

Group will implement a marine ranger program in conjunction with all other interested 

parties during the life of the Plan. 

11.0 EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF THE PLAN 

The Plan will be in operation for a maximum of ten years unless amended or revoked by 

the preparation of a new plan in accordance with the provisions of either of the above 

named Acts. A review of the Plan and its provisions will be conducted once the Plan has 

been in operation for five years (mid term review). 

It will be the responsibility of the Cobourg Board and the Cobourg Fisheries 

Management Area Advisory Committee (CFMAAC) to review the management programs 

annually to assess the progress of implementation of the plan and the effectiveness of 

those programs. Measures of effectiveness of the management strategies will be 

developed by the Cobourg Board in consultation with the CFMAAC within the first two 

years of the life of the Plan. If necessary, consideration will be given to means of 

improving the effectiveness of a particular management strategy within the life of the 

Plan. 


45

12.0 REFERENCES 

Bayliss, P (1986) “Factors Affecting Aerial Surveys of Marine Fauna, and their 

Relationship to a Census of Dugong in the Coastal waters of the Northern Territory”, 

Aust. Wild. Res. 13, 27-37 

Blake, N. M., Wightman, G. M., Williams, L. L. V. 1998. Iwaidja Ethnobotany: Aboriginal 

plant knowledge from Gurig National Park, Northern Australia. Northern Territory 

Botanical Bulletin No. 23, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, 

Palmerston. 

Bruce, A. J. (1986) “Three New Species of Commensal Shrimps from Port Essington, 

Arnhem Land, Northern Australia”, The Beagle, Occasional Papers of the N.T. Museum 

of Arts and Sciences, 3(1), 143-166 

California State Department of Parks and Recreation, Underwater Parks Masterplan, 

Sacramento, California 

Chatto, R and Warneke, R. M. (2000) Records of cetacean strandings in the Northern 

Territory of Australia. The Beagles, Record of the useums and Art Gallery of the 

Northern Territory 16:163 – 175. 

Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1987) Area Statement for Cobourg 

Marine Park. Unpublished. 

Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1987) Coastal Resources Atlas of 

the N.T. Unpublished. 

Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1987) Garig Gunak Barlu National 

Park Gunak (Sanctuary) Plan of Management, Darwin, N.T. 

Craik, W. (1978) Fisheries Factors Affecting Marine Park Management, Great Barrier 

Reef Marine Park Authority 


46

Dodd, C. K. (1988) Synopsis of the Biological Data on the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Fish 

and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior 

Edgar, G. (1981) An Initial Survey of Potential Marine Reserves in Tasmania, Tasmania 

National Parks and Wildlife Service 

Ferns, L (1999) Interim Marine Biophysical Regionalisation for the Northern Territory 

Version I: A bioregional framework for marine conservation in the Northern Territory, 

Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, Darwin Australia. 

Gomeluk V.E (2002) Assessment of Condition of Rock Oysters at Cobourg Marine Park, 

Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service, Darwin Australia 

Gomeluk V.E (2003) Checklist of Coral and Rock Reef Fish Species at Garig Gunak 

Barlu National Park, Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service, Darwin Australia 

Gomeluk V.E (2003) Coral Bleaching at Cobourg Marine Park in 2002-2003, Northern 

Territory Parks and Wildlife Service, Darwin Australia 

Gomeluk V.E (2003) First Months of Coral Environment Monitoring at Cobourg 

Peninsula, Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service, Darwin Australia 

Hope R., and Smit N. (1998) Marine Turlte Monitoring in Gurig National Park and 

Cobourg Marie Park. In Kennett, R., Webb, A., Duff, G., Guinea, M. and Hill, G. Marine 

Turtle Conservation ad Management in Northern Australia. CINCRM and CTWM, 

Darwin. Pp 53 – 62. 

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment, (1980) Management of 

the Australian Coastal Zone, AGPS, Canberra 

Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation Technical Group (1998) Interim Marine and 

Coastal Regionalisation of Australia: an ecosystem based classification for marine and 

coastal environments. Version 3.3, Environment Australia, Commonwealth Department 

of the Environment, Canberra 

Marsh, H. (1979) The Dugong, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville 

Morgan, G. J. (1987) “Hermit Crabs of Darwin and Port Essington, Northern Australia”, 

The Beagle, Records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4(1), 165- 

186 

Poiner, I. and Roberts, G. (1986) A Brief Review of Seagrass Studies in Australia, 

CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research, Cleveland, Qld. 

Porter, L. and Chivers, B. L. (2005). Small Cetacean Survey of the Timor Sea: Australian 

– Indonesian Timor Leste Marine Mammal Reasearch Training Programme and 


47

Demonstration Survey. A Final Report prepared for Environment Australia. WWF 

Australia. Pp50. 

Salm,R. and Clark, J.R. (1984) Marine and Coastal Protected Areas: A Guide for 

Planners and Managers, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland 

Spillet, P.G. (1972) Forsaken Settlement, Landsdowne Press, Melbourne 

Steinberg, D (1999) The Australian Historic Shipwreck Plan of Management, Museum 

and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin Australia. 


48

SCHEDULE 1 Co-ordinates for Zoning Scheme 

Latitude Longitude 

Point Deg Min Sec Deg Min Sec 

A -11 9 2.86339 131 52 29.15978 

B -11 4 12.84399 132 0 46.24606 

C -11 4 17.83572 132 7 53.24096 

D -11 2 56.8393 132 16 31.23803 

E -11 1 16.83347 132 20 4.23925 

F -11 7 1.45082 132 24 20.77962 

G -11 6 59.1842 132 20 2.01605 Eastern side of Danger Point 

H -11 6 58.91949 132 19 57.84218 Western side of Danger Point. 

I -11 5 51.27105 132 17 25.53151 

From this point the boundary of zone follows the 

Territorial Sea baseline to point A. 

Description 

Multiple Use A Zone (Northern): All that area of sea 

from the Seaward boundary of the Marine Park to the 

Territorial Sea Baseline and including the areas 

between the territorial sea baseline and a straight line 

between point F and G and a straight line between H 

and I. 

A -11 32 25.58299 132 6 57.07113 Warigili Point Multiple Use A Zone (Southern): All area of sea and 

estuary (below high water mark) extending out to 2 km 

from high water mark running parallel to the coast 

B -11 32 26.25847 132 8 11.78165 

between points B and C and all area of sea from high 

water mark to the straight line between point A (Warigili 

C -11 36 22.9781 132 31 39.25677 Boundary of the Marine Park 

point) and point B. 




A -11 7 30.48439 131 59 38.59525 

B -11 7 25.75432 131 59 38.64653 

C -11 9 2.86339 131 52 29.15978 

D -11 9 34.87431 131 51 34.24176 

E -11 10 52.84553 131 48 12.24078 

F -11 18 54.87134 131 44 12.22905 

North west boundary of Port Essington zone 

G -11 36 56.20768 132 4 52.2569 Western boundary of Conservation Zone between 

Warigilli Point and seaward boundary of the Park. 

H -11 32 25.58299 132 6 57.07113 

I -11 30 21.80628 132 39 21.64317 

J -11 28 46.90264 132 40 34.19846 

K -11 7 1.45082 132 24 20.77962 

L -11 6 59.1842 132 20 2.01605 

M -11 6 58.91949 132 19 57.84218 

N -11 5 51.27105 132 17 25.53151 

O -11 7 18.37468 132 8 11.68917 

P -11 7 21.14225 132 8 11.65778 

Southern Boundary of Multiple Use A Zone (Northern) 

North east boundary of Port Essington zone 

Description 

Multiple Use B Zone (West): All areas below high 

water mark to the Park Boundary from a line between A 

and B (North west boundary of Port Essington zone) 

following the territorial sea baseline to point A. and then 

to the line between G and H (Western boundary of 

Conservation Zone) but not including the Scientific 

Reference Zone. 

Multiple Use B Zone (east): All areas below high water 

mark to the Park Boundary and the southern boundary 

of Multiple Use A zone (Northern) from I to the line 

between O and P (North east boundary of Port 

Essington zone) but not including the Scientific 

Reference Zone. 




A -11 7 18.37468 132 8 11.68917 

B -11 7 21.14225 132 8 11.65778 

C -11 7 30.48439 131 59 38.59525 

D -11 7 25.75432 131 59 38.64653 

A -11 32 25.58299 132 6 57.07113 

B -11 36 56.20768 132 4 52.2569 

C -11 32 26.25847 132 8 11.78165 

D -11 36 22.9781 132 31 39.25677 

E -11 38 32.90903 132 27 48.19649 

F -11 38 38.89735 132 6 50.20988 

Port Essington Zone (Northeast): Territorial Sea 

Baseline at point A to highwater at point B. 

Port Essington Zone (Northwest): Territorial Sea 

Baseline at point C to highwater at point D. 

Western boundary of Conservation Zone 

Description 

Port Essington Zone: All that area below high water 

bounded by the territorial sea baseline and the northeast 

and north-west boundary; but not including coral bay or 

pearling leases in Knocker, Curlew and Berkley Bays or 

privacy zone around Gumeragi outstation. 

Conservation Zone: All that area of sea between the 

seaward boundary of the Marine Park east of a straight 

line between Points A and B to the seaward boundary 

of Multiple Use A Zone (Southern). 




A -11 11 6.57058 132 9 43.68729 

B -11 11 6.33125 132 9 18.54965 

C -11 9 55.60812 132 9 28.74998 

D -11 9 55.8234 132 9 51.42077 

A -11 10 6.85951 132 19 9.80209 

B -11 9 55.6923 132 18 47.36502 

C -11 7 14.12368 132 19 33.85644 

D -11 7 14.32858 132 19 56.90859 

E -11 7 37.89985 132 20 32.44847 

F -11 7 38.10362 132 20 55.50111 

G -11 8 5.52501 132 21 3.45032 

H -11 8 25.41477 132 20 52.19887 

A -11 13 44.03659 132 22 49.73398 

A -11 19 2.91391 132 31 4.7461 

B -11 20 33.62453 132 32 51.53045 

A -11 11 35.08058 131 52 34.46502 

B -11 11 43.50414 131 52 3.20714 

C -11 11 10.52631 131 54 5.55534 

D -11 11 18.95288 131 53 34.2983 

A -11 14 10.78996 131 57 56.49648 

Gumeragi – All area seaward extending from high water 

mark between points B and D bounded by the lines A 

and B to the south and C and D to the north. 

Gul Gul 

West: All area extending 700 m seaward of high water 

mark from a line between points A and B to a line 

between Points C and D. 

East: All area extending 700 m seaward of high water 

mark from a line between points E and F to a line 

between Points G and H. 

Meriah - All area seaward of high water mark within a 1 

km radius of this point (A). 

Irgul - All area seaward of high water mark to a line 

extending between these two points (A and B). 

Araru - All area seaward extending 1 km from high water 

mark between points B and D bounded by the lines A 

and B to the south and C and D to the north. 

Ardbinae - All area seaward of high water mark within a 

1 km radius of this point. 

Description 

Outstation Privacy Zones 




-11 23 47.56 131 54 53.889 

Scientific Reference Zone High Black Rock: All that 

area of sea extending 500 metres from high water mark 

at High Black Rock. 

A -11 16 52.50796 131 50 21.13107 

Scientific Reference Zone - northern Popham Creek 

All that area of sea below high water between points A 

and B. 

B -11 15 48.93844 131 50 54.20606 

C -11 18 49.73739 131 50 26.15672 Scientific Reference Zone - southern Popham Creek 

All that area of sea below high water between points C 

and D. 

D -11 18 20.28183 131 53 13.04391 

A -11 7 32.78961 132 11 4.56382 Scientific Reference zone Sandy Island I: All that area 

seaward of the Island between high and low Water to 

the North, East and West extending approximately 500 

metres from high water and 500 metres to the south to a 

B -11 7 16.7117 132 11 24.12197 line extending between these A and B. 

Scientific Reference zone Sandy Island II: All that area 

seaward of the Island between High and Low Water 

extending approximately 300 m from high water. 

Description 

Scientific Reference Zone High Black Rock 

Scientific Reference Zone (Popham Creek) 

Scientific Reference Zone (Sandy Island I and II) 


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APPENDIX 1 Descriptions of Interim Marine and Coastal 

Regionalisation for Cobourg Marine Park 

Taken from the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation Technical Group (1998) Interim 

Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia: an ecosystem based classification for 

marine and coastal environments. Version 3.3, Environment Australia, Commonwealth 

Department of the Environment, Canberra 

Cobourg 

Location: Cape Don to Turner Point, and seaward from the High Water Mark to the 

30m isobath. Includes the northern side of Cobourg Peninsula and Croker and Golbourn 

Islands. 

Remarks: Coast of numerous bays and inlets lined by sandy beaches. Lack of rivers 

with small tidal range (2–3 m) infers minimal sediment debouchment and relatively low 

turbidity throughout the region. Mangroves restricted to narrow strips along bays and creek 

inlets. Numerous fringing reefs throughout entire region. 

Climate: Climate is monsoon tropical with annual rainfall averaging from 1200–1400 

mm. Runoff is between 500–100 mm of annual rainfall, however no major rivers occur 

along the coastline of this region. Cyclone frequency is low to moderate. 

Oceanography: The region is meso-tidal with a 2–3 m variation although north-east of 

Croker Island micro-tidal conditions (

Geology and geomorphology: Geology is dominated by lateritised Cretaceous 

siltstones, sandstones and mudstones of the Bathurst Island Formation. The coastline 

consists of deeply incised bays terminating in beaches or muddy mangrove creeks. Coastal 

relief is low with numerous rocky headlands with fringing coral and coralline algal reefs. 

Rocky patch reefs are common offshore. Numerous islands occur in the eastern portion of 

the region, the largest being Croker Island. The majority of islands are rocky, continental 

islands with fringing reefs, however coral cays, such as New Year Island and the Sandy 

Islands, also occur. Sediments are primarily biogenic sands and muds. 

Biota: Mangrove diversity is lower than sites in the Darwin region although the locally rare 

mangrove palm Nypa fruticans is present. Coral diversity is high in this region, particularly 

on fringing reefs surrounding islands to the east and north-east of Croker Island. Sea turtles 

breed on the numerous beaches in the region. The offshore islands support numerous 

seabird rookeries. Substantial dugong populations occur across the region and seagrass 

beds are abundant inshore. The region is a major trawling ground for the Northern Prawn 

Fishery. Prawn by-catch data indicate that inshore (

Climate: Climate is monsoon tropical. Rainfall averages between 1200–1400 mm 

annually. Cyclone frequency is low to moderate. Runoff ranges from 500–1000 m of annual 

rainfall. Wet season river discharges are high from the Mary, South Alligator and East 

Alligator River systems. The coastline is relatively sheltered from south-easterly dry season 

winds, but is exposed to north-west monsoons. 

Oceanography: Due to physical restriction of gross water movement at the Vernon 

Islands and Dundas Strait circulation is largely internal. Tidal amplitude is macro tidal, 

ranging from 4–6 m. Waters are turbid due to fine grained sediments, macro tides, riverine 

sediment discharges and shallow waters. Sea surface temperatures vary 4–5 o C annually. 

Coastal waters experience periods of lowered salinity during wet season riverine flows. 

Geology & geomorphology: Geology consists of sediments (sandstones, 

siltstones) and basement igneous and metamorphic rocks (granite, migmatite, gneiss, 

schist) of the Pine creek geosyncline overlain in the north-east by Cretaceous sandstones 

and siltstones of the Bathurst Island Formation. Landforms are dominated by extensive 

riverine plains fringed at the coast by chenier ridges and saline mudflats. Rocky reefs are 

scattered infrequently offshore, and a number of small islands occur, particularly in the 

north-east of the region, with Greenhill Island being the most noteworthy. Sediments are 

largely terrigenous sands and muds coastally grading to biogenic muds offshore. 

Biota: Mangrove diversity is high (38 species) in vicinity of the Alligator Rivers. Areas of 

seagrass provide dugong (Dugong dugon) habitat in the north-east of the region, while 

flatback turtles (Natator depressus) nest on most of the regions beaches. The coastline 

exhibits excellent wader and water bird feeding habitat. 

Estuaries: Estuary types dominated by straight-banked river mouths (6 of 14 major 

estuaries) and deltaic river mouths (5 of 14 major estuaries). Major estuaries: The 

Wildman, West Alligator, South Alligator, and East Alligator Rivers, Tommycut, Sampan, 

Mini-mini and Ilyamari Creeks, and Shamrock Bay. 


Northern Province 

Location: Extending from east of Cape Hotham to west of Cape York. 

Remarks: This Province represents a core area traversed by a large suite of tropical 

Indo-West Pacific fishes whose ranges extend variably down the eastern and western 

Australian coasts. It is not demarcated by an obvious suite of indicator species. The Gulf 

of Carpentaria is represented by a comparatively simple range of habitats (i.e. coral reef 

habitats and their faunas are poorly represented) that may contain unique faunal elements 

that so far remain undefined. A weak disjunction exists at Gove (north-western tip of Gulf of 

Carpentaria) possibly indicating a boundary at the meso-scale level. It is bounded in the 

east by a major faunal disjunction and the North-eastern Biotone (NEB). Further work is 

needed to evaluate substructure within this Province and adjacent biotones. Meso-scale 

regions: Includes West Cape York, Wellesly, Karumba-Nassau, Pellew, Carpentaria, 

Groote, Arafura, Arnhem Wessel and Cobourg regions. 


APPENDIX 2: Preliminary Fauna List of Cobourg Peninsula 

by Helen K. Larson 

Northern Territory Museum 

Marine Park and Adjacent Areas 

This preliminary list is based on specimens held at the Northern Territory Museum, and on 

all available published scientific literature as of 1988. The list does not include records 

based on specimens held at other museums (interstate and overseas). Several species are 

represented by literature records only. These may be erroneous identifications, or be truly 

rare fish. 

Species are arranged by family, with the family number given beside each family name. In 

some cases, fish are identified only to family or genus. Species which were originally 

described from Port Essington have (usually) a basic reference accompanying them. 

Please note that this list has not been updated since 1988; therefore for a number of 

species, their names have changed, or they have been described, synonymised with other 

species, or split into more than one species. Work is continuing on a complete checklist of 

all Northern Territory fishes, including the Cobourg Marine Park. 

Family Genus species 

Fishes 

Orectolobidae (wobbegongs) Chiloscyllium punctatum 

Hemiscyllium trispeculare 

Stegostoma fasciatum 

Scylliorhinidae (catsharks) Atelomycterus macleayi 

Carcharhinidae (whaler sharks) Carcharhinus brevipinna 

Carcharhinus dussumieri 

Carcharhinus limbatus 

Carcharhinus melanopterus 

Carcharhinus sealei 

Carcharhinus tilstoni 

Hemipristis elongatus 

Rhizoprionodon acutus 

Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks) Sphyrna lewini 

Sphyrna mokarran 



Rhynchobatidae (shovelnose rays) Rhynchobatus djiddensis 

Dasyatidae (stingrays) Amphotistius kuhli 

Dasyatis sp. 

Himantura uarnak 

Gymnuridae (butterfly rays) Gymnura australis 

Megalopidae (tarpons) Megalops cyprinoides 

Muraenidae (moray eels) Gymnothorax fimbriata 

Gymnothorax sp.1 (Bali book) 

Muraenesocidae (pike eels) Muraenesox cinereus 

Congridae (conger eels) Conger wilsoni 

Lumiconger arafura 

Uroconger lepturus 

Ophichthidae (snake eels) Muraenichthys 

Pisoodonophis cancrivorus 

Clupeidae (sardines and herrings) Anodontostoma chacunda 

Herklotsichthys 

Herklotsichthys koningsbergeri 

Herklotsichthys lippa 

Pellona ditchela 

Sardinella 

Spratelloides 

Engraulidae (anchovies) Setipinna 

Spratelloides delicatulus 

Stolephorus 

Stolephorus advenus 

Stolephorus waitei 

Thryssa 

Thryssa hamiltoni Gray 1832 

Thryssa setirostris 

Chirocentridae (wolf herrings) Chirocentrus dorab 

Synodontidae (grinners) Saurida 

Saurida micropectoralis 

Chanidae (milkfish) Chanos chanos 

Ariidae (forktailed catfish) Arius bilineatus 

Arius polystaphylodon 



Arius proximus 

Arius thalassinus 

Plotosidae (eeltailed catfish) Euristhmus 

Euristhmus nudiceps 

Paraplotosus albilabrus 

Paraplotosus butleri 

Batrachoididae (frogfish) Batrachomoeus 

Batrachomoeus trispinosus 

Halophryne diemensis 

Halophryne ocellatus 

Antennariidae (anglerfishes) Lophiocharon trisignatus 

Tathicarpus butleri 

Tetrabrachium ocellatum 

Bregmacerotidae (unicorn codlets) Bregmaceros 

Ophidiidae (cuskeels) Dinematichthys 

Sirembo 

Exocoetidae (flying fishes) Cheilopogon 

Parexocoetus mento 

Hemiramphidae (garfish or halfbeaks) Arrhamphus sclerolepis 

Hemiramphus far 

Hyporhamphus neglectissimus 

Hyporhamphus quoyi 

Zenarchopterus buffonis 

Zenarchopterus gilli 

Belonidae (longtoms or needlefish) Strongylura strongylura 

Strongylura caudimaculata 

Melanotaeniidae (rainbowfishes) Melanotaenia nigrans 

Atherina nigrans 

Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis 

Atherinidae (hardyheads) Alanetta mugiloides 

Atherinomorus endrachtensis 

Hypoatherina temminckii 

Pranesus 

Holocentridae (squirrelfishes) Adioryx ruber 

Myripristis violaceus 



Veliferidae (veilfins) Velifer 

Fistulariidae (flutemouths) Fistularia 

Centriscidae (razorfishes) Centriscus 

Fistularia commersonii 

Syngnathidae (pipefishes) Choeroichthys brachysoma 

Haliichthys taeniophorus 

Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes) Dendrochirus 

Micrognathus micronotopterus 

Syngnathoides biaculeatus 

Trachyrhamphus bicoarctata 

Trachyrhamphus intermedius 

Trachyrhamphus longirostris 

Hypodytes carinatus 

Inimicus 

Minous versicolor 

Parascorpaena picta 

Pterois lunulata ? 

Scorpaenodes 

Scorpaenopsis 

Synanceia horrida 

Triglidae (gurnards) unidentified: 2 lots 

Aploactinidae (velvetfishes) Adventor elongatus 

Platycephalidae (flatheads) Elates ransonetti 

Inegocia japonica 

Papilloculiceps nematophthalmus 

Platycephalus indicus 

Suggrundus bosschei 

Suggrundus celebicus 

Suggrundus harrisii ? 

Suggrundus japonica 

Suggrundus rodericensis ? 

Suggrundus staigeri 

Dactylopteridae (flying gurnards) Dactyloptena 

Dactyloptena papilio 

Pegasidae (seamoths) Parapegasus natans 

Ambassidae (glass-perchlets) Ambassis commersoni 



Ambassis nalua 

Centropomidae (giant perches) Hypopterus macropterus 

Lates calcarifer 

Psammoperca vaigiensis 

Serranidae (groupers) Centrogenys vaigiensis 

Cephalopholis boenack 

Cromileptes altivelis 

Epinephelus 

Epinephelus bleekeri 

Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus 

Epinephelus fasciatus 

Epinephelus quoyanus 

Epinephelus sexfasciatus 

Epinephelus suillus 

Epinephelus tauvina 

Plectropomus maculatus 

Pseudochromidae (dottybacks) Congrogadus subducens 

Pseudochromis 

Pseudochromis fuscus 

Pseudochromis punctatus 

Pseudochromis wilsoni 

Teraponidae (grunters) Amniataba caudovittata 

Pelates quadrilineatus 

Pelates sexlineatus 

Terapon 

Terapon jarbua 

Terapon puta 

Terapon theraps 

Priacanthidae (bulls‟-eyes) Priacanthus macracanthus 

Priacanthus tayenus 

Apogonidae (cardinalfishes) Apogon sp. 

Apogon albimaculosus 



Sillaginidae (whiting) Sillago 

Apogon brevicaudatus 

Apogon coccineus 

Apogon cooki 

Apogon crassiceps 

Apogon darnleyensis 

Apogon ellioti 

Apogon opercularis 

Apogon poecilopterus 

Apogon quadrifasciatus 

Apogon ruppellii 

Apogon victoriae 

Archamia fucata 

Fowleria aurita 

Glossamia aprion 

Gymnapogon cf. philippinus 

Pseudamia n.sp. 

Sillago analis 

Sillago maculata 

Sillago sihama 

Lactariidae (milk trevally) Lactarius lactarius 

Rachycentridae (cobia) Rachycentron canadus 

Echeneidae (remoras) Echeneis naucrates 

Carangidae (trevallies) Alepes 

Remora remora 

Carangoides caeruleopinnatus 

Carangoides chrysophrys 

Carangoides hedlandensis 

Carangoides humerosus 

Carangoides talamparoides 

Caranx bucculentus 

Caranx ignobilis 

Caranx para 

Caranx sexfasciatus 

Carangidae (trevallies) Gnathanodon speciosus 

Megalaspis cordyla 



Scomberoides 

Scomberoides commersonianus 

Scomberoides tala 

Scomberoides tol 

Selaroides leptolepis 

Seriolina nigrofasciata 

Trachinotus bailloni 

Ulua aurochs 

Parastromatidae (pomfrets) Parastromateus niger 

Menidae (moonfish) Mene maculata 

Leiognathidae (ponyfish) Equula equula 

Equula interrupta 

Gazza minuta 

Leiognathus 

Leiognathus bindus 

Leiognathus decorus 

Leiognathus cf berbis 

Leiognathus novaehollandiae 

Leiognathus splendens 

Secutor insidiator 

Secutor ruconius 

Lutjanidae (snappers) Caesio cuning 

Lutjanus 

Lutjanus argentimaculatus 

Lutjanus carponotatus 

Lutjanus erythropterus 

Lutjanus fulvus 

Lutjanus vaigiensis 

Lutjanus lemniscatus 

Lutjanus russelli 

Lutjanus sanguineus 

Lutjanus vitta 

Mesoprion yapilli 

Nemipteridae (threadfin bream) Nemipterus hexodon 

Nemipterus marginatus 



Nemipterus peronii 

Scaevius millii 

Scolopsis 

Gerrididae (silver biddies) Gerres 

Scolopsis monogramma 

Scolopsis temporalis 

Gerres abbreviatus 

Gerres filamentosus 

Haemulidae (sweetlips) Plectorhynchus 

Plectorhynchus chaetodontoides 

Plectorhynchus pictus 

Plectorhynchus polytaenia 

Pomadasys 

Lethrinidae (emperors) Lethrinus 

Pomadasys kaakan 

Pomadasys maculatus 

Pomadasys trifasciatus 

Lethrinus choerorhynchus 

Sparidae (bream) Chrysophrys auratus (record probably 

Sciaenidae (jewfish) Atrobucca 

L=Acarthopagrus berda) 

Johnius 

Johnius johnius 

Nibea 

Mullidae (goatfish) Mulloidichthys 

Upeneus sp. 

Upeneus sulphureus 

Upeneus sundaicus 

Pempheridae (sweepers) Leptobrama muelleri 

Ephippidae (batfishes) Platax orbicularis 

Zabidius novamaculeatus 

Scatophagidae (scats) Selenotoca multifasciata 

Rhinoprenidae (threadfin scat) Rhinoprenes pentanemus 

Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes) Chaetodon aureofasciatus 

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi 



Chelmon marginalis 

Chelmon muelleri 

Euxiphipops sexstriatus 

Heniochus acuminatus 

Parachaetodon ocellatus 

Pomacentridae (damselfishes) Abudefduf bengalensis 

Abudefduf septemfasciatus 

Amphiprion ocellaris 

Amphiprion rubrocinctus 

Dischistodus fasciatus 

Neopomacentrus cyanomos 

Neopomacentrus filamentosus 

Neopomacentrus violascens 

Pomacentrus littoralis 

Pomacentrus milleri 

Stegastes 

Stegastes obreptus 

Cepolidae (bandfishes) Acanthocepola abbreviata 

Mugilidae (mullet) 

Oedalechilus labiosus 

Oedalechilus kesteveni 

Liza 

Liza alata 

Liza melinoptera 

Liza vaigiensis 

Valamugil 

Valamugil buchanani 

Valamugil cunnesius 

Valamugil seheli 

Sphyraenidae (barracudas) Sphyraena 

Sphyraena barracuda 



Sphyraena jello 

Sphyraena obtusata 

Sphyraenella 

Polynemidae (threadfins) Polydactylus 

Polynemus 

Polynemus heptadactylus 

Polynemus multiradiatus 

Polynemus sheridani 

Polynemus sexfilis 

Labridae (wrasses) Choerodon cyanodus 

Choerodon vitta 

Choerodon schoenleinii 

Halichoeres 

Scaridae (parrotfishes) Scarus 

Halichoeres dussumieri 

Halichoeres melanochir 

Halichoeres melanurus 

Labroides dimidiatus 

Thalassoma lunare 

Scarus ghobban 

Opistognathidae (jawfishes) Opistognathus castelnaui 

Mugiloididae (grubfishes) Parapercis 

Opistognathus darwinensis 

Opistognathus latitabunda 

Opistognathus papuensis 

Uranoscopidae (stargazers) Ichthyoscopus fasciatus 

Uranoscopus 

Uranoscopus cognatus 

Blenniidae (blennies) Atrosalarias fuscus 

Cirripectes filamentosus 

Istiblennius 

Laiphognathus multimaculatus 

Meiacanthus grammistes 

Omobranchus ferox 

Blenniidae (blennies) Omobranchus germaini 

Omobranchus punctatus 



Omobranchus rotundiceps 

Omobranchus verticalis 

Omox biporos 

Petroscirtes mitratus 

Petroscirtes variabilis 

Salarias 

Notograptidae (eel-blennies) Notograptus 

Notograptus guttatus 

Tripterygiidae (triplefins) Enneapterygius n.sp. 

Enneapterygius n.sp. 

Enneapterygius n.sp. 

Helcogramma striata 

Callionymidae (dragonets) Callionymus 

Callionymus belcheri belcheri 

Callionymus enneactis 

Callionymus grossi 

Callionymus pleurostictus 

Gobiidae (gobies) Acentrogobius cf caninus 

Acentrogobius viridipunctatus 

Amblyeleotris gymnocephala 

Amblygobius bynoensis 

Amblygobius phalaena 

Amoya gracilis 

Bathygobius 

Bathygobius fuscus 

Bathygobius laddi 

Bathygobius sp.9 

Bryaninops amplus 

Callogobius cf okinawae 

Callogobius sp.15 

Cryptocentroides insignis 

Cryptocentrus 

Gobiidae (gobies) Drombus 

Cryptocentrus cf strigilliceps 

Cryptocentrus russus 

Drombus triangularis 



Eviota prasina 

Eviota queenslandica 

Eviota storthynx 

Eviota sigillata 

Favonigobius melanobranchus 

Gnatholepis 

Gobiodon 

Gobiodon histrio 

Gobiodon okinawae 

Gobiodon sp.3 ? 

Gobiodon sp.4 ? 

Gobiopsis aporia 

Gobius voigtii 

Istigobius nigroocellatus 

Istigobius ornatus 

Istigobius perspicillatus 

Macrodontogobius wilburi 

Mugilogobius sp.5 

Mugilogobius stigmaticus 

Mugilogobius 

Oxyurichthys 

Oxyurichthys papuensis ? 

Oxyurichthys tentacularis 

Palutris 

Pandaka lidwilli 

Parachaeturichthys polynema 

Parioglossus philippinus 

Priolepis nuchifasciatus 

Pseudogobius 

Ptereleotris microlepis 

Silhouettea hoesei 

Valenciennea n.sp. 

Valenciennea muralis 

Valenciennea puellaris 

Gobiidae (gobies) Yongeichthys criniger 

Eleotrididae (gudgeons) Mogurnda mogurnda 



Oxudercidae (mudskippers) Periophthalmus argentilineatus 

Amblyopidae (worm gobies) Brachyamblyopus 

Ctenotrypauchen microcephalus 

Trypauchenichthys 

Trypauchenichthys typus 

Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes) Acanthurus grammoptilus 

Siganidae (rabbitfishes) Siganus cf. doliatus 

Siganus fuscescens 

Siganus nebulosus 

Siganus virgata 

Trichiuridae (cutlassfishes) Trichiurus 

Scombridae (tunas) Euthynnus affinis 

Rastrelliger kanagurta 

Scomberomorus 

Scomberomorus queenslandicum 

Scomberomorus semifasciatum 

Istiophoridae (spearfishes) Istiophorus platypterus 

Makaira indica 

Psenopsidae (ruffes) Psenopsis 

Psettodidae (Queensland halibut) Psettodes erumei 

Bothidae (right-eyed flounders) Arnoglossus 

Grammatobothus polyophthalmus 

Pseudorhombus 

Pseudorhombus arsius 

Pseudorhombus elevatus 

Pseudorhombus russelli 

Pleuronectidae (left-eyed flounders) Brachypleura novaezeelandiae 

Soleidae (soles) Aesopia heterorhinos 

Aseraggodes 

Dexillichthys muelleri 

Paradicula setifer 

Pardachirus pavoninus 

Zebrias quagga 

Cynoglossidae (tongue soles) Cynoglossus 

Cynoglossus bilineatus 



Cynoglossus puncticeps 

Paraplagusia blochi ? 

Triacanthidae (tripodfishes) Triacanthus 

Triacanthus biaculeatus 

Tripodichthys 

Tripodichthys angustifrons 

Trixiphichthys weberi 

Monacanthidae (leatherjackets) Anacanthus barbatus 

Monacanthus chinensis 

Paramonacanthus 

Pervagor 

Ostraciidae (boxfishes) Ostracion cubicus 

Rhynchostracion nasus 

Rhynchostracion rhinorhynchus 

Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes) Amblyrhynchotes 

Arothron 

Arothron alboreticulatus 

Arothron manilensis 

Chelonodon 

Chelonodon patoca 

Lagocephalus 

Lagocephalus gloveri 

Lagocephalus lunaris 

Lagocephalus sceleratus 

Lagocephalus spadiceus 

Tetraodon 

Torquigener tuberculiferus 

Torquigener whitleyi 

Diodontidae (spiny pufferfishes) Diodon liturosus 

Tragulichthys jaculiferus 


Family Genus species Common Name 

Reptiles 

Crocodylidae Crocodylus porosus Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile 

Chelonidae Caretta careta Loggerhead Turtle 

Chelonia depressa Flatback Turtle 

Chelonia mydas Green Turtle 

Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle 

Lepidochelys olivacea Pacific Ridley (Olive Ridley Turtle) 

Dermochelyidae Dermochelys coriacea Leathery or Luth Turtle 

Hydrophiidae Acalyptophis peronii 

Mammals 

Aipysurus apraefrontalis 

Aipysurus duboisii 

Aipysurus eydouxii 

Aipysurus laevis 

Astrotia stokesii Stoke‟s Sea Snake 

Disteira kingii 

Disteira major 

Emydocephalus annulatus 

Enhydrina schistosa Beaked Sea Snake 

Hydrelaps darwiniensis 

Hydrophis atriceps 

Hydrophis czeblukovi 

Hydrophis elegans 

Hydrophis inornatus 

Hydrophis medowelli 

Hydrophis ornatus 

Hydrophis pacificus 

Lapemis hardwickii 

Parahydrophis mertoni 

Pelamis platurus Yellow-bellied Sea Snake 

Dugongidae Dugong dugon Dugong

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park - Parks and Wildlife Commission ...

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