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