Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve
Activity management
Prohibitions on Public Access
The area of Ashmore that is assigned the IUCN category Ia is closed to the public. Limited access is permitted to West Island Lagoon and to a small part of West Island - see map.
All of Cartier is closed to the public.
The following table outlines activities allowed without authorisation (
), allowed with authorisation (A) or not allowed (
) at Ashmore and Cartier.
| Activity* | Area open to the public (IUCN II Zones) | Areas closed to the public (IUCN Ia zones) |
|---|---|---|
| West Island Lagoon, east beach and central corridor of West Island (see map) | Majority of Ashmore Reserve (including Middle & East Islands) and all of Cartier | |
| General Access | |
A |
| Commercial Activities | ||
| Fishing (including collecting#) | |
|
| Filming and Photography | A | A |
| Tourism and Charters | A | A |
| Other Commercial Activities | |
|
| Recreational Activities | ||
| Scuba diving & snorkelling |
|
|
| Fishing | (general approval)** |
|
| Scientific Research | A | A |
* Camping and lighting fires is not allowed in any part of the reserve. |
||
How to apply for authorisation
To apply for an approval to access closed areas or to conduct activities within the Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island Marine Reserves contact the Ashmore Reserve Manager on (02) 6274 1111 or email mpa@environment.gov.au.
Applications to conduct activities in the reserves are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please allow a minimum of 28 days for processing.
What is authorisation?
Authorisations allow identified activities that would otherwise be prohibited, to occur at Ashmore and Cartier. Authorisations are legal instruments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 and are issued by the Director of National Parks, or his delegate. Authorisation may take the form of an approval or a permit.
Who needs authorisation?
All commercial tour operators and researchers who wish to operate within the reserves are required to apply for an authorisation.
Recreational fishing (for finfish for immediate consumption in the open area of Ashmore only) is allowed under a general approval (see below) and the associated conditions. An individual authorisation is not required for this activity. To ensure that the recreational fishing rules remain consistent with the management principles for Ashmore, the general approval and conditions applicable to non-commercial fishing will be reviewed annually.
What conditions are associated with authorisation?
There are conditions associated with authorisations to conduct activities within the reserves. These conditions place certain requirements on activities undertaken in the reserves. Failure to adhere to these conditions may result in variation or revocation of authorisation.
General approvals
- Approval of non-commercial fishing in Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve (PDF - 560 KB) | (RTF - 1590 KB)
Information for visitors
Ashmore Reef Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve - Information for Visitors describes the management arrangements for the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve and provides advice on how visitors, and other users of Ashmore and Cartier, should meet their obligations under the management arrangements.
Latest news
Marine protected areas
Temperate East Marine Region
- Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve
- Solitary Islands Marine Reserve (Commonwealth Waters)
- Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
- Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Coral Sea
- Coral Sea Conservation Zone
- Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve
- Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve
North-west Marine Region
- Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
and
Cartier Island Marine Reserve - Mermaid Reef Marine National Nature Reserve
- Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)