Aquatic Reserves And Marine Parks

In South Australia, aquatic reserves or marine parks have been established to protect the habitat, ecosystems and communities of the rich variety of underwater organisms found in the marine and estuarine waters of South Australia. Fishing and other activities might be prohibited or restricted within these areas.

The diversity of species is a result of a remarkable array of coastal landforms and habitats and the considerable variability in sea temperatures along the South Australian coast. These factors have combined to produce a rich variety of underwater organisms and communities, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

South Australia’s first aquatic reserves were established in 1971. The first marine park was established in 1995.  

A map showing the location of the State's aquatic reserves can be viewed below.  A larger version of the map can be viewed here. 

Aquatic Reserves can be downloaded as GPS & Google Earth data.

 

SA map showing aquatic reserves

Click on the name of the aquatic reserve in the table below to view a map showing details and coordinates for each aquatic reserve.

Aquatic reserve Permitted/Prohibited activities
Aldinga Reef, southern metropolitan Adelaide No fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish within the reserve.
American River, Kangaroo Island No fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish within the reserves.
Baker Inlet – St Kilda, northern metropolitan Adelaide Rod and line or handline only.
Blanche Harbour, upper Spencer Gulf Hand fish spear for the taking of fish only.
No other fishing.
Coobowie, lower Yorke Peninsula

Area 1 - fishing from boat or shore using rod and line or handline, collecting bait from the beach, boating, diving, swimming.

Area 2 - no fishing or collecting or removing any marine organisms 

Goose Island, Port Victoria No fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish within the reserve.
Point Labatt, near Streaky Bay No entry
Port Noarlunga, southern metropolitan Adelaide Rod and handline only. Other restrictions apply.
Hand nets for the taking of shrimps for bait only (in the waters of the estuary and the Onkaparinga River upstream to the Noarlunga Bypass Bridge on Main South Road.
Seal Bay – Bales Beach, southern coast, Kangaroo Island Bales Beach – no fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish within the reserve.

Seal Bay – no entry.
St Kilda – Chapman Creek, St Kilda Hand, crab rake or hoop net for the taking of blue crabs only.
Troubridge Hill, lower Yorke Peninsula Rod and line or handline only.
West Island, Victor Harbor

Area 1 – Rod and line or handline only.

Area 2 – no entry.

Area 3 - no fishing, no collecting or removing any marine organisms

Whyalla – Cowleds Landing, upper Spencer Gulf No fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish within the reserve except for crabbing only adjacent to 8 Mile Creek Beach.
Yatala Harbour, upper Spencer Gulf No fishing.
Any person may remain in the aquatic reserve but may not take fish with the reserve.
Great Australian Bight Marine Park, far west coast See Department for Environment and Heritage web site for more details
 
The coordinates shown on these maps are based on the Geographical Datum of Australia (GDA) 94 which coincides almost exactly with WGS84. Some adjustment might be required depending on the GPS navigational system used.  All coordinates are shown as degrees, decimal minutes.


Marine protected areas

A marine protected area is an area of sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biodiversity and of natural and associated cultural resources.

Some of the benefits of marine protected areas include:
  • maintaining biodiversity
  • protecting endangered or threatened species and their habitats
  • enhancing fisheries by ensuring breeding areas are not degraded and catch limits are sustainable
  • providing opportunities for research
  • conserving our cultural heritage, such as sites of indigenous significance.


The State Government has committed to developing 19 new marine parks within state waters by 2010. Recreational and commercial fishing will still be allowed within a marine park boundary, but there will be particular zones or periods of time where some activities will not be permitted. 

The South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage is leading the South Australian Marine Protected Areas Program to develop this system with assistance from PIRSA Fisheries. The Department for Environment and Heritage can give you more information about the proposed marine parks and activities.