Following the establishment of Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park and the release of the management plan in 2022, the community continues to enjoy the stunning waters of the park and the many activities available including fishing, boating and customary activities.

Marine rangers and Fisheries officers continue to educate the public about the park and its values and zoning, which was developed through extensive community consultation.

Over the past 12 months, Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and Fisheries officers have provided visitors and stakeholders information about the zoning through ranger patrols, community events, and information distributed via local accommodation providers.

From 19 July 2026, zoning outlined in the management plan will be actively enforced in the marine park, with authorised officers checking that people are enjoying activities such as fishing in the appropriate management zones.

The park has four zone types: 

• General use zones where recreational and commercial fishing is allowed, covering 47 per cent of the park.
• Special purpose (biocultural conservation) zones where recreational fishing is allowed and some forms of commercial fishing are permitted, covering 2 per cent of the park.
• Special purpose (cultural protection) zones in which recreational fishing is allowed only as part of a licensed commercial tour and commercial trochus collection is permitted, covering 26 per cent of the park.
• Sanctuary zones where no fishing or collecting is allowed, covering 25 per cent of the park.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) Buccaneer Archipelago Marine Parks Coordinator Kevin Bancroft said the community has had time to adjust to the park and now welcomes the zoning coming into force.

“The zones strike the right balance between protecting wildlife and cultural values while supporting recreation, tourism and commercial use,” Mr Bancroft said.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Senior Operations Manager Matt Gogoll said DPIRD had been working over the past 12 months to provide information on the zoning and where fishing was permitted to the community.

“I encourage anyone heading out on the water to familiarise themselves with zone maps and make sure they are only fishing within the permitted area so they don’t risk fines or prosecution,” Mr Gogoll said.

Recreational fishing can be enjoyed in the park, in the general use zones and special purpose (biocultural conservation) zones.

Commercial fishing can be undertaken in general use zones and some forms of commercial fishing are permitted in special purpose zones.

To offer the highest level of protection for marine habitats and wildlife, all forms of fishing and collecting are prohibited in sanctuary zones.

“In areas where recreational fishing is not permitted, visitors can enjoy low impact activities like boating, photography, wildlife viewing and enjoying the natural beauty of the marine park,” Mr Bancroft said.

Customary activities such as hunting, fishing and ceremonial activities are permitted in all areas of the marine park, recognising the ongoing cultural connection of Bardi and Jawi Traditional Owners to Sea Country.

Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park is jointly managed by DBCA and Bardi and Jawi Traditional Owners. The park covers 204,000 hectares of waters around the northern part of Dampier Peninsula and the western islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago, including reefs and intertidal systems.

More information about zoning can be found at exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/bardi-jawi-gaarra-marine-park.

An interactive zoning map for the park is also available on the WA Recreational Fishing Rules website: rules.fish.wa.gov.au (select View Map, North Coast Bioregion).