West Australians are encouraged to have a say on the future of one of the world's most significant cultural
and natural tourist attractions - Horizontal Falls and surrounding areas on WA's Kimberley coast. The State
Government, in partnership with the Dambimangari traditional owners, released the draft management
plan for the proposed Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls and North Lalang-garram marine parks and the pro-
posed Oomeday National Park for public comment on 16 October 2015. The plan is available at
www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/horizontalfalls and is open for public comment until 22 January 2016. So go on, have
your say!
Montebello / Barrow Islands Marine Reserves Newsletter
Issue 2 July 2015
Have Your Say Lalang-garram / Camden Sound Marine Park
2
Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park
2
Coral Trout at the Rowley Shoals
3
Mud sampling in Roebuck Bay
3
Research in the Kimberely
4
IN THIS ISSUE
Quick facts
An olive ridley turtle
hatchling was found in the
Lalang-garram / Camden
Sound Marine Park, only
the sixth individual of this
species recorded in WA
It is still prohibited to take
coral trout at the Rowley
Shoals Marine Park
Do not interfere with or
feed estuarine crocodile.
Operators Workshop to
be held in Broome on
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Thank you to everyone who visited the Rowley Shoals Ma-
rine Park this year for your ongoing liaison and commitment
to working together to look after the reefs. It has been an-
other great season sharing the natural wonders of the
Shoals with visitors to the Marine Park.
Water temperature loggers have been replaced at each of
the reefs, moorings have been recertified, monitoring sur-
veys of the red-tailed tropic bird breeding colony contin-
ued, and, thanks to ongoing efforts, marine debris have
been collected from the islands and reefs. With the season
now drawing to a close, please make sure all logs and ticket
books are returned to the Parks and Wildlife office within
ten days of your last visit. We wish everyone safe travels for
refit and the festive season, and look forward to working
together again in 2016.
Rowley Shoals season wraps up
The spectacular Horizontal Falls
Credit: Todd Quartermaine, Parks and Wildlife
Red-tailed tropicbird and chick at Bedwell
Island, Clerk Reef.
Credit: Michelle Glover, Parks Australia
December 2015, Issue 8
PAGE 1
Issue 2, July 2015
PAGE 2
Tracking turtles at Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park
Flatback turtles are endemic to northern Australia and are the only species known to nest on Eighty Mile Beach, with peak nesting in No-
vember and December, and peak hatching in January and February. Marine park rangers and scientists from Parks and Wildlife together
with joint management partners Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla spent a week in November attaching satellite transmitters to seven
flatback turtles that nest on Eighty Mile Beach. These monitoring devices transmit information to Parks and Wildlife several times a day,
including the location of the turtle and how far it has travelled. As relatively little is known about flatback turtles, this information is very
valuable and gives us insight into their movements during and after nesting, and where the turtles forage for food. You can view each
turtle’s movements at www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=1053.Tina, a flatback turtle named by a Bidgydanga school
student, moved 96 kilometres in five days!
Marine park operations continued through-
out 2015, with several joint management
patrols by Parks and Wildlife and the
Dambimangari Rangers, as well as contin-
ued Fisheries patrols.
Estuarine crocodiles were surveyed in July
and August to gather information on abun-
dance and distribution, updating results
from surveys conducted in 1978 and 1986.
Initial results indicate an increase in croco-
dile numbers of 50-300 percent since 1986,
with densities now similar to those found in
many Northern Territory river systems.
Tissue samples were also taken from 79
individuals for extraction of their genetic
profiles, as part of a national study looking
at connectivity of crocodile populations
across Australia. The largest crocodile sur-
veyed in the marine park was recorded in
the Prince Regent River, measuring approxi-
mately four metres. Final results will be
published in 2016 and made available to
the public.
Marine turtle research in the marine park is
looking into nesting abundance of all spe-
cies with the majority attributed to flatback
and green turtles. Nest temperature log-
gers, marked with a length of 1m x 20mm
PVC pipe inserted upright within the base
of the dunes have been installed on a few
key nesting beaches, including Deception
Bay and Augustus, Champagny and Vul-
kan islands. If noticed, please leave them
in place as they provide valuable infor-
mation on nesting activity and the gender
of the hatchlings. Surveys of nesting suc-
cess rates were undertaken and rangers
continue to quantify predation levels at
mainland nesting sites, largely involving
wild dogs / dingos. Dambimangari and
Parks and Wildlife rangers found a rare
olive ridley turtle hatchling within the
Jungulu Special Purpose Zone, only the
sixth recorded in Western Australia.
Visitor interactions with crocodiles are an
ongoing concern in the marine park.
Please remember that it is illegal to take
or interfere with wildlife, including feed-
ing animals, and this behaviour is danger-
ous and increases the risk of injury to
visitors.
Marine park staff are now reviewing the
Dambimangari Ranger, Graham Woolagoodja,
installing a temperature logger.
Credit: Danny Barrow, Parks and Wildlife
On the water update: Lalang-garram / operational season and developing a service
plan for 2016. We look forward to seeing you
and sharing valuable information in the
Lalang-garram / Camden Sound Marine Park.
Estuarine crocodile hatchling included in the
survey.
Credit: Danny Barrow, Parks and Wildlife
Left: The paths of 14 flatback
turtles fitted with satellite
transmitters at Eighty Mile
Beach Marine Park during
2014 and 2015.
Credit: Seaturtles.org
Right: Three traditional
owner groups, Ngarla,
Nyangumarta and Karajarri,
with Parks and Wildife staff
and flatback turtle with satel-
lite transmitter attached.
Credit: Parks and Wildlife
December 2015, Issue 8
Stuck in the Mud at Roebuck Bay
Over the past 18 months, the Minister for Fisheries has been
considering a proposal from Recfishwest to allow visitors to
catch and consume on board a feed of coral trout within the
Rowley Shoals Marine Park.
The Minister has carefully considered research advice from Fish-
eries and Parks and Wildlife. The matter was also discussed with
a range of stakeholders during the periodic audit of the Rowley
Shoals Marine Park Management Plan by the Marine Parks and
Reserves Authority in late 2014.
The Minister has recognised that coral trout are highly valued by
recreational fishers and fishing tour operators for their table
quality and understands that, anecdotally, the coral trout popu-
lation at the Rowley Shoals appears to be healthy. The Minister
also understands that cods and wrasse at the Rowley Shoals
represent examples of near-pristine populations of these spe-
cies and, as such, have very high value to the tourism, diving
and conservation sectors.
Every two months, the Yawuru Rangers see the words ‘mud
sampling’ scheduled into their weekly works program. A
collective sigh runs through the team. It means an early
start, mozzies and getting knee deep on the Roebuck Bay
mudflats. But they all know it’s important work, collecting
samples that contribute to a 20 year data set on the ben-
thic species living within the mudflats.
The research involves catching and recording little mud
critters like bivalves, crabs, snails, worms and sea stars; the
primary food source for hundreds-of-thousands of migrato-
ry shorebirds that depend on Roebuck Bay to fatten up
before flying 10,000km to their northern hemisphere
breeding grounds. These studies are providing an insight
into how Roebuck Bay can support shorebirds in such vast
numbers. Ultimately, the data will be used to determine an
efficient sampling regime for future monitoring and man-
agement techniques for areas with similar habitat.
While the Minister believes the proposal has merit, there are
concerns around the current lack of understanding of the stock
structure and biology of the two coral trout species found at the
Rowley Shoals, particularly in relation to genetic connectivity. The
small and isolated nature of these reefs makes this an important
management issue. On this basis, the Minister has recommended
that further research be undertaken to address this knowledge
gap, prior to making a decision to lift the current prohibition.
Fisheries and Parks and Wildlife are actively discussing opportuni-
ties for collaboration and options for funding the required re-
search. It is hoped the studies will be completed in time for the
next audit of the Rowley Shoals Marine Park Management Plan.
The future management of coral trout in the park will be reconsid-
ered at that time.
Fisheries update: Proposal to take coral trout at the Rowley Shoals
Planning for the North Kimberley Marine Park Balanggarra traditional owners and Parks and Wildlife staff recently spent four days
visiting important areas on Balanggarra country as part of the planning process for the
proposed North Kimberley Marine Park. The trip began at McGowans Island, north of
Kalumburu, and visited Sir Graham Moore Island, Cape Londonderry, Koolama Bay and
King George Falls, finishing off at the Berkeley River. Coral reef communities around
Cape Londonderry were surveyed with drop cameras and turtle nesting activity was
recorded along several beaches. The trip was an important to the planning process and
signified a positive the start to what will hopefully be a long and fruitful joint manage-
ment between Parks and Wildlife and Balanggarra traditional owners.
PAGE 3
Issue 2, July 2015
Yawuru Ranger’s , Jason Richardson, Jason Fong and Preston Manado in the
thick of it straining a sample collecting benthic samples on the mud flats of the
proposed Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay Marine Park.
Credit: Parks and Wildlife
Balanggarra traditional owner Les French watches Balanggarra Ranger Wesley cool off under a spring in the Berkeley River.
Credit: Parks and Wildlife
December 2015, Issue 8
Issue 2, July 2015
PAGE 4
Research in the Kimberley Seagrass research in Bardi Jawi saltwater country
A Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) team of CSIRO and UWA
researchers spent ten days working with the Bardi Jawi Rangers on Tallon Island
(Jalarn) and Sunday Island (Iwany) measuring the growth of seagrass and macroal-
gae –key food sources for fish and turtles. They also measured consumption rates
of seagrass, which are very high in some places, and production of microflora pre-
sent in the sand that forms the beaches. Over several years the team has forged a
strong collaboration with the Bardi Jawi Rangers, and their insights and efforts have
been essential to the project’s success. A highlight of this trip was the opportunity
to present to children from the local school: wowing the high school Bush Rangers
with real-life chemistry on the beach, and talking to dozens of excited children
about turtles.
Photos left and above: Preparing for seagrass
tethering study. Credit: Mat Vanderklift CSIRO
Benchmarking human use of Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park: What do people do along the coast between Broome and Port Hedland?
Professor Lynnath Beckley from Murdoch University recently completed her
WAMSI research project on human use of and impacts on coastal waters of the
west Kimberley. Her research involved aerial surveys of the Kimberley coast, with
a focus on Eighty Mile Beach and the Dampier Peninsula. Flying regularly between
Broome and Port Hedland, she recorded most activity near Eighty Mile Beach Car-
avan Park, Cape Keraudren and Barn Hill. Fishing was the most popular activity for
people on the shore (46 percent), followed by walking along the beach (33 per-
cent). Fishing was particularly popular near Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park with
anglers and their associated four-wheel drive vehicles spread along about 30km of
coastline. The distribution of human use was also examined in relation to the
sanctuary zones of the new Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park. It will be useful in
informing management and monitoring practices to support sustainable use and
conservation for the region.
Marine Commercial Operators Workshop 2016 Commercial operators who run their business within any of the west Kimberley
marine parks are invited to join Parks and Wildlife and Fisheries in this annual
workshop, to be held at the Parks and Wildlife Conference Room on Tuesday 22nd
March 2016 in Broome. The workshop consists of updates on each of the marine
parks, Fisheries rules, current research and monitoring and will give the operators
an opportunity to raise and discuss any issues. A formal invite will be emailed
shortly, but in the meantime please pencil this date into your calendar.
December 2015, Issue 8