The Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park

On 29th November 2005, NSW Premier Iemma announced the Great Lakes - Port Stephens Marine Park which came into effect on 1 December 2005. It stretches from Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club near Forster to Birubi Beach Surf Life Saving Club at the northern end of Stockton Beach.

It encompasses whale and dolphin hotspots, Grey Nurse Shark key habitat sites and other important areas for conservation and includes Port Stephens, Myall Lakes and Smiths Lakes.

Making the Most of the Park

To ensure that the marine park is effecitve at conserving the marine life in its waters large and well placed sanctuaries are essential.

By playing a role in the current public consultation period for the park's zoning you can help ensure a more sustainable future for the NSW south coast

Areas which Must be Protected as Sanctuaries

Estuary habitats that must be protected

The Branch River Sanctuary
A beautiful river important for fish species that migrate between saltwater and freshwater to complete stages of their life cycle. Since the removal of fish barriers such as weirs, the natural water flow and tidal limits of this river have been restored and water quality improved.

Wirrung and Snapper Island Sanctuary
An area at the mouth of the Karuah River identified as high conservation value that would protect mangrove, salt marsh, and Zostera seagrass.

Soldiers Point to Taylors Beach Habitat Protection
Protects 220 ha of sensitive Posidonia and Zostera seagrass, and 80 ha of mangrove and salt marsh from commercial fishing such as hauling and mesh netting, but allows recreational fishing to continue.

Middle Island Sanctuary
Protects 30 ha of Posidonia and Zostera seagrass and some of the deepest water in the Port. Almost fished out, protection will allow Grey Nurse Shark’s to recolonise the area. Middle Island is a
sacred Aboriginal site.

Bagnalls Beach Sanctuary
An area of rocky reef harbouring soft corals and sponge gardens of enormous conservation significance that would also protect Posidonia and Zostera seagrass.

East Port Stephens Habitat Protection
Protects large areas of seagrass and fish nurseries and a breeding area of the resident dolphin population that support a $40 million tourist industry. Recreational fishing can continue.

Myall River Sanctuary
One of the highest areas of conservation significance identified by the Government, this protects a large area of Zostera seagrass and is surrounded by important areas of mangrove and salt
marsh. First proposed for protection by NPA in 1995.

Boolambayte Lake Sanctuary
One of the most complex and least disturbed lakes in the Myall system within Myall Lakes National Park. Protects Stoneworts, Prickly Waternymph, and Myriophyllum. First proposed for protection by NPA in 1995.

Smiths Lake Sanctuary
The largest intermittently closing and opening lake in the State, listed as an internationally significant Ramsar wetlands and rated as high conservation significance by the Government. Protects Ruppia seagrass and the endangered coastal spurge.

Rocky shore and near shore reef habitats that must be protected

Fingal Island and Box Beach Sanctuary
Fingal Island is an important intertidal rocky shore and near shore reef habitat connected to the coast by a sand spit submerged at high tide. Contains high biodiversity, being one of the few areas to contain all five rocky shore “communities” and large areas of
complex near shore reefs of over 20 m depth. Protection is also provided to important deep water habitats.

Bald Point Sanctuary
Has the highest species diversity of any intertidal rocky shore in the region. Recommended for protection since 1982.

Grey nurse shark habitats that must be protected

Boondelbah and Yacaba Head Sanctuary
Protects an important site for up to five Grey Nurse Sharks and the waters of Boondelbah Island, one of a few north coast Little Penguin nesting sites and site of the trial reintroduction of the endangered Gould’s Petrel, all impacted by fishing.

Broughton Island Sanctuary
Rated by the Government as one of the most significant areas, it fully protects the resident Grey Nurse Sharks (10% of the NSW population) and allows them to extend their range to complex near
shore and deep reef habitats and gutters to the south of the Island.

Edith Breakers, north Yagon Beach and Sawtooth Rocks Sanctuary
A very important area at Seal Rocks that protects 12% of the NSW population of Grey Nurse Shark, including breading areas near Sawtooth Rocks. The vulnerable Great White Shark and threatened Black Cod have also been sighted at Edith Breakers.

Latitude Rock and the Pinnacles Sanctuary
Protects two Grey Nurse Shark sites that habour 16% of the State’s population and significant areas of intertidal rocky shore and 40-60 m reef system. These Sharks regularly traverse between the two sites

Get Involved!

Support sanctuary zones at the key conservation areas listed above in the current public consultation period.

Visit one of the following SEA members websites for more information and to participate:

NPA~Marine

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

The Wilderness Society

Hunter Community Environment Centre