West Cape York Marine Park is located adjacent to the northern end of the Cape York Peninsula, about 25 kilometres south-west of Thursday Island. Like much of the Gulf of Carpentaria, this marine park is relatively shallow. The waters of the marine park receive higher wave energies than other areas in the Gulf, helping to drive primary production and diversity. West Cape York Marine Park covers part of what is believed to be the largest single continuous seagrass meadows in Australia, and is important as a year-round food source for marine turtles and dugong.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the West Cape York Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Small and/or camouflaged fish species hidden on or near the reef surface are commonly referred to as ‘cryptic’ or ‘cryptobenthic’ fishes. These species are characteristically difficult to see but are diverse and abundant throughout Australian Marine Parks and may play an important role in supporting the larger predatory fish species protected within park boundaries.
Parks Australia manage 60 Australian Marine Parks, many of which include shallow reefs. These reef habitats are hugely diverse, and include tropical reefs dominated by hard corals; current-swept offshore bommies covered in sea whips, sea fans and soft corals; temperate rocky reefs with sea urchin barrens or low lying colourful seaweeds; and deeper rocky reefs with sessile invertebrates and large black coral trees.
Find out where 13 marine species have been observed in the Marine Parks of the N and NW networks.
Natural values
Our marine parks have a number of different values, including natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values. The natural values of our marine parks refer to the habitats, species and ecological communities within them, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function. Below are the key datasets that help inform park managers about the natural values that exist within our network of Australian Marine Parks. For more information on other park values refer to the relevant park Management Plans on the Parks Australia website.
See which wetlands of international significance are protected by Australian Marine Parks.
Maps
The information provided by these datasets was integral in the planning and development of our national network of marine parks. Learn in detail about how scientists and marine park planners used these important marine features together to design Australia's network of marine parks, or explore the datasets for the West Cape York Marine Park individually through the links below.
See which areas of Australia's marine environments have been World Heritage listed.
Latest maps
Since the initial planning of the Australian Marine Parks Network in 2012, new mapping data has emerged that allows us to see in finer detail the features that exist within our parks. These datasets help marine managers to understand more about what's under the surface, where there are overlaying management or protection regimes, and/or where pressures on the marine environment may be increasing.
Examine how exposure to tropical cyclone activity varies across Australian Marine Parks.
Scientific papers
The following publications contain information relevant to the West Cape York marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Whytlaw, P. A, Edwards, W and Congdon, B. C. (2013).
Marine turtle nest depredation by feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on the Western Cape York Peninsula, Australia: implications for management.
Wilcox, C, Hardesty, B. D, Sharples, R, Griffin, D. A, Lawson, T. J and Gunn, R. (2013).
Ghostnet impacts on globally threatened turtles, a spatial risk analysis for northern Australia.
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