More information Walpole and ... - Yanchep National Park · estuarine system—one of very few in...
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The open inlet mouth, the mixing of the fresh river and salty ocean waters, healthy riparian vegetation, river deltas and two large inlets result in diverse marine habitats and a high diversity of marine fauna and flora including a great range of fish species. Black bream, whiting and herring are just a few of at least 40 fish species that have been recorded here. The marine park serves as an important nursery area for many fish species including juvenile pink snapper. Sharks and rays which are less common in other estuaries are also found in the marine park. New Zealand fur seals and dolphins also use the inlets and have been seen in the Frankland River as far up as Nornalup. Black swans, ducks, swamphens, cormorants, herons, egrets, oyster catchers, plovers and pelicans are all commonly seen in the marine park. The sand flats at the mouth of the Nornalup Inlet are an especially important roosting habitat for migratory shorebirds such as stints, great knots and sand pipers. Many of these migratory shorebirds travel vast distances from their breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska to come to the marine park to rest and recuperate before beginning their return journey. It is therefore very important not to cause any unnecessary disturbance to these birds whilst they rest. Ospreys and white-bellied-sea-eagles also live and fish in the marine park. We need marine parks for the same reasons we have national parks on the land. Together, they protect our precious plants and animals, above and below the waterline. Tall karri forest meets the sea at the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. When William Nairne Clark and his party rowed into Nornalup Inlet—and up the Deep and Frankland rivers—in 1841, he recorded ‘lofty wooded hills, with tall eucalypt trees growing close to the water’s edge, and crowning the summits of these high hills, thus casting a deep gloom over the water and making the scenery the most romantic I ever witnessed in other quarters of the globe’. The Walpole and Nornalup inlets lie about 450 kilometres south of Perth on WA’s south coast. The town of Walpole is adjacent to the shallow (mostly about a metre deep) 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, which is fed by the freshwater Walpole River. The larger (1,300-hectare) and deeper (up to five metres) Nornalup Inlet is fed by the freshwater Deep River and the saltier Frankland River. The marine park encompasses the Walpole and Nornalup inlets and the tidal parts of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers. The estuaries are joined by a natural one-kilometre-long and two-metre-deep channel, bordered by steep granite hills and rocky shores. These are known locally as ‘The Knolls’ and are clothed with dense karri forest. The Walpole and Nornalup inlets is a permanently open estuarine system—one of very few in the south-west—that experiences marine-like conditions for most of the year. Seagrasses, algae, a diverse array of shellfish and other animals live in the estuary floor. Some prawn species, the blue swimmer crab and mud burrowing crab are also found in the inlets. M a r i n e p a r k s … m ore th a n j u s t f is h Information guide Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park Marine parks… WA’s submerged wonders RECYCLE Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points Enjoying the marine park The untouched nature, wildlife and scenic quality of the Walpole and Nornalup inlets provide a wealth of opportunities for canoeing, boating, recreational fishing and other water-based activities. A major attraction of the inlet system is the perception of naturalness and remoteness that can be experienced, particularly in parts of the Nornalup Inlet and the Frankland and Deep rivers. Nature-based tourism charters from Walpole are available so people can get up close to the wildlife and experience the marine park’s stunning scenery. The entire Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is zoned for recreation, and recreational fishing is therefore permitted in all areas. While the marine park has high conservation values, its highly dynamic and variable estuarine nature and its simple basin structure means that sanctuary (no take) zones have not been designated. The marine park supports excellent recreational fishing opportunities for a number of fish species. Check first with the Department of Fisheries to find out about bag limits, minimum sizes and any licences that may be needed. More information Department of Environment and Conservation South Coast Highway Walpole WA 6398 Ph (08) 9840 0400 Fax (08) 9840 1251 www.dec.wa.gov.au Department of Fisheries regional office Suite 7, Frederick House 70-74 Frederick St Albany WA 6330 Ph (08) 9845 7400 Fax (08) 9845 7457 www.fish.wa.gov.au Walpole-Nornalup Visitor Centre South Coast Highway Walpole WA 6398 PO Box 196 Ph (08) 9840 1111 Fax (08) 98401355 email: [email protected] Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au/weather/wa/forecasts WA Marine Service call 1900 926 150 Walpole Sea Search and Rescue (VMR 619) Ph (08) 9840 1527 Mobile 0427 770 232 Radio frequency: VHF Distress, work and call Ch 21 Current as March 2012 Photos – Damon Annison, David Bettini, Ian Herford/DEC, Lochman Transparencies, Gary Muir, Ann Storrie, Tourism WA and Michael Hemmings. 20120039-0312-??M
Transcript of More information Walpole and ... - Yanchep National Park · estuarine system—one of very few in...
The open inlet mouth, the mixing of the fresh river and salty ocean waters, healthy riparian vegetation, river deltas and two large inlets result in diverse marine habitats and a high diversity of marine fauna and flora including a great range of fish species. Black bream, whiting and herring are just a few of at least 40 fish species that have been recorded here. The marine park serves as an important nursery area for many fish species including juvenile pink snapper. Sharks and rays which are less common in other estuaries are also found in the marine park. New Zealand fur seals and dolphins also use the inlets and have been seen in the Frankland River as far up as Nornalup.
Black swans, ducks, swamphens, cormorants, herons, egrets, oyster catchers, plovers and pelicans are all commonly seen in the marine park. The sand flats at the mouth of the Nornalup Inlet are an especially important roosting habitat for migratory shorebirds such as stints, great knots and sand pipers. Many of these migratory shorebirds travel vast distances from their breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska to come to the marine park to rest and recuperate before beginning their return journey. It is therefore very important not to cause any unnecessary disturbance to these birds whilst they rest. Ospreys and white-bellied-sea-eagles also live and fish in the marine park.
We need marine parks for the same reasons we have national parks on the land. Together, they protect our precious plants and animals, above and below the waterline.
Tall karri forest meets the sea at the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park.
When William Nairne Clark and his party rowed into Nornalup Inlet—and up the Deep and Frankland rivers—in 1841, he recorded ‘lofty wooded hills, with tall eucalypt trees growing close to the water’s edge, and crowning the summits of these high hills, thus casting a deep gloom over the water and making the scenery the most romantic I ever witnessed in other quarters of the globe’.
The Walpole and Nornalup inlets lie about 450 kilometres south of Perth on WA’s south coast. The town of Walpole is adjacent to the shallow (mostly about a metre deep) 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, which is fed by the freshwater Walpole River. The larger (1,300-hectare) and deeper (up to five metres) Nornalup Inlet is fed by the freshwater Deep River and the saltier Frankland River. The marine park encompasses the Walpole and Nornalup inlets and the tidal parts of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers.
The estuaries are joined by a natural one-kilometre-long and two-metre-deep channel, bordered by steep granite hills and rocky shores. These are known locally as ‘The Knolls’ and are clothed with dense karri forest.
The Walpole and Nornalup inlets is a permanently open estuarine system—one of very few in the south-west—that experiences marine-like conditions for most of the year. Seagrasses, algae, a diverse array of shellfish and other animals live in the estuary floor. Some prawn species, the blue swimmer crab and mud burrowing crab are also found in the inlets.
Marine parks…more than just fish
Information guide
Walpole andNornalup Inlets Marine Park
Marine parks… WA’s submerged
wonders
Recycle Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points
Enjoying the marine parkThe untouched nature, wildlife and scenic quality of the Walpole and Nornalup inlets provide a wealth of opportunities for canoeing, boating, recreational fishing and other water-based activities. A major attraction of the inlet system is the perception of naturalness and remoteness that can be experienced, particularly in parts of the Nornalup Inlet and the Frankland and Deep rivers. Nature-based tourism charters from Walpole are available so people can get up close to the wildlife and experience the marine park’s stunning scenery.
The entire Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is zoned for recreation, and recreational fishing is therefore permitted in all areas. While the marine park has high conservation values, its highly dynamic and variable estuarine nature and its simple basin structure means that sanctuary (no take) zones have not been designated.
The marine park supports excellent recreational fishing opportunities for a number of fish species. Check first with the Department of Fisheries to find out about bag limits, minimum sizes and any licences that may be needed.
More informationDepartment of Environment and Conservation South Coast HighwayWalpole WA 6398Ph (08) 9840 0400Fax (08) 9840 1251www.dec.wa.gov.au
Department of Fisheries regional officeSuite 7, Frederick House70-74 Frederick StAlbany WA 6330Ph (08) 9845 7400Fax (08) 9845 7457www.fish.wa.gov.au
Walpole-Nornalup Visitor CentreSouth Coast HighwayWalpole WA 6398PO Box 196Ph (08) 9840 1111Fax (08) 98401355email: [email protected]
Bureau of Meteorologywww.bom.gov.au/weather/wa/forecasts
WA Marine Service call 1900 926 150
Walpole Sea Search and Rescue (VMR 619)Ph (08) 9840 1527 Mobile 0427 770 232
Radio frequency:VHF Distress, work and call Ch 21
Current as March 2012
Photos – Damon Annison, David Bettini, Ian Herford/DEC, Lochman Transparencies, Gary Muir, Ann Storrie, Tourism WA and Michael Hemmings.
2012
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Protecting WA’s marine areasWestern Australia’s marine areas are globally significant. Western Australia’s coastal waters are considered to be among the least disturbed in the world.
The Western Australian coast boasts a big area of biogeographic overlap, between the tropical north (north of North West Cape) and the temperate south (east of Cape Leeuwin), where tropical and temperate species co-exist. The Indian Ocean is also the only ocean in the world that has an eastern boundary current (the Leeuwin Current) that transports warm waters from the equator to the southern coast of a continent.
Our coastal waters are valued by Western Australians. The wide range of environmental, cultural, commercial and recreational values they offer generate employment and revenue and provide people with a source of pleasure and recreation.
The Government of Western Australia is committed to conserving our marine environment and the sustainable use of our natural resources. A major component of the state government’s marine conservation and management strategy is the establishment of a state-wide system of marine parks and reserves. Approximately 1,538,294 hectares of state waters are currently included in marine parks and reserves. This equates to about 12 per cent of state waters, of which 2.4 per cent is in sanctuary (‘no take’) areas.
The conservation and sustainable use of Western Australia’s marine environment is everyone’s responsibility. By working together to reduce human impacts on the marine environment we can pass it on to future generations in a similar condition to what it is in today.
Caring for the marine environment• Fishforthefuture.Observesize,bagandpossession
limits. See Recreational Fishing Guide: South Coast Region for details. Available from the Department of Fisheries.
• Quicklyreturnundersizeandunwantedfishtothewater.Use wet hands or a wet cloth when handling fish and avoid placing on hot, dry surfaces.
• Disposeoflitterthoughtfully,especiallyplasticsandfishing line.
• Anchorinsandormudtoprotectseagrasshabitats.
• Stay within the speed limits when boating in Walpole Inlet and in the Deep, Walpole and Frankland rivers.
• Pleasegoslownearshorelinestopreventshorelineerosion, disturbance to waterbirds and disturbance to other marine park users.
• Stayontrackswhenaccessingthe marine park to protect fragile estuarine vegetation.
• Netfishingandspearfishing(including hand spears) is prohibited in the marine park.
Walpole
Walpole-NornalupNational Park
SOU HT
WESTE NR
HWY
SOUTHCOAST
HWY
Circus Beach
ShelleyBeach
Walpole Inlet
Nornalup Inlet
PelicanRock
DeepRiver
Fr danklan
R eiv r
East Pt
Rocky Head
Sealers Cove Be
e gllan r
Saddle Island
MonasteryLanding
S O U T H E R N O C E A N
0 1 2
kilometres
Beach
Perth
Walpole and NornalupInlets Marine Park
Coalmine Beach
SandyBeach
NORTHW
ALPOLE
RD
RES
T
POINTRD
KNOLL
DR
BEACH
RD
HILLTOP
RD
GULLY
RD
SA
ND
YB
EA
CH
RD
ISLE
RD
DELTA
RD
WalpoleRiver
Ce
olli
r
Creek
SHEDLEY
DRTING LEW
OO
D
RD
SHEDLEY
DR
The Channels
Legend
Mt Frankland SouthNational Park
Walpole-NornalupNational Park
Nornalup
NewdegateIsland
Highway
Sealed road
Unsealed road
BibbulmunTrack
Coalmine Beach HeritageTrail
Walktrail
National park
Marine park recreation zone
Boating prohibited area
Ski zone area
Marine park extent
Proposed State forest
Barbecue (gas) in shelter
Boat ramp
Caravan park
Canoeing
Fishing
Lookout
Picnic area
Toilets
Walktrail
Water skiing
COALMINE
