A new Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) has been dedicated in the south‑west Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra (Sea Country) IPA covers 237,489 hectares of Sea Country. It sits next to Karajarri Native Title lands and extends the existing land-based Karajarri IPA.
Its dedication will help protect:
- threatened species
- diverse coastal environments
- culturally significant areas.
The Sea Country IPA includes beaches, mudflats and reefs and extends across Eighty Mile Beach state and Commonwealth marine parks. These areas provide habitat for species such as:
- dugong
- sawfish
- dolphins
- migratory shorebirds.
The IPA also includes areas that support riji (carved pearl shell) traditions. These are recognised in the National Heritage Listing of the West Kimberley.
The Karajarri Traditional Lands Association, in partnership with Traditional Owners, will manage the Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra (Sea Country) IPA together with the existing Karajarri IPA.
Management will draw on both traditional and western knowledge and include:
- biodiversity surveys and mapping
- turtle monitoring
- managing the impacts of climate change
- language and cultural maintenance activities.
IPAs are established through voluntary agreements between First Nations peoples and the Australian Government.
Australia now has more than 6.8 million hectares of sea and over 108.5 million hectares of land covered by IPAs.
