Wildlife protection and Indigenous culture thrive in Australia's new marine park

By awarding a marine park status to the Northern Territory, the first to be established in the Top End in more than 30 years, Australia has made huge progress in the field of conservation. In the Northern Territory. Limmen Bight Marine Park is the second designated park, following Cobourg Marine Park, which was established in 1983.

The marine park is situated at Limmen Bight in the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria and is the cultural habitat of the Native people of Marra. The marine park is a significant area of biodiversity known for its almost untouched tropical waters. It is the habitat to significant species of plants and animals like dolphins and sea turtles because the park is a feeding ground and nursery for these species. 

Protection of marine parks has become extremely important, more than ever to ensure the survival of the natural park and its fragile environment. The recent threats to the coasts from deforestation, seabed mining, and coral bleaching are seriously degrading the natural environment. With the guidance of the Marra people, scientists, and conservationists, the groups who understand it best, proposals for the protection of these parks are now being put into effect.

The Limmen Bight Marine Park, occupying an area of 884 sq. kilometers, ranges from the start of the Roper River in the north to the southern frontier of Limmen National Park. A marine park was proclaimed in 2012, but a management plan for the area was released only in April of this year, detailing the ways in which the regional government will collaborate with local communities, particularly traditional owners, to transform the area into a multi-use marine park and to protect it in the face of concerns to its biodiversity and way of life.

Lauren Moss, NT Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, said that the Limmen Bight Marine Park Management strategy is a blueprint for fostering aboriginal and tourism job opportunities while safeguarding the special territorial environment. The development model of the park also includes the benchmarked practices of monitoring and evaluation of the marine park. This ensures that the management understands the quality standards and work ethic required to protect the habitat. It also promotes the establishment of a Limmen Bight Aboriginal Ranger Community, which the traditional owners are interested in. 

A significant heritage of aboriginal art styles and legends, the marine park is packed with places of cultural importance to the Marra, and in particular, ancient Dreamings. The new Marine Park development plan will play a significant role in protecting these sites, as well as protecting and encouraging job opportunities through sustainable tourism, educational, leisure and fishing opportunities for the local indigenous community. This will set examples for other pristine sites to stop their degradation and refocus on protecting the integrity of the environment. 

According to the traditional owner of the Marra community, the collaboration between the cultural and local knowledge of their community and the advanced knowledge of science & technology and management will result in a healthy pristine environment. An environment that can be left respectfully for the future generations of humans and all other species. The active collaboration of traditional knowledge with advanced tech will surely help diminish the threats to the natural world. 

This marks a significant development that will ensure wildlife protection and that indigenous culture thrives in Australia's new marine park. For those who love natural habitat and wildlife, then Australia is one the best places to travel to. Travel to the Limmen Bight Marine Park and enjoy the beauty and peace of the natural pristine environment. Travel has become a lifestyle and it's become all the more important to ensure that your travel minimizes harm to the environment. There are other natural biodiversity parks in Australia that will leave you mesmerized.