Ningaloo’s health ‘slides’ as climate change threatens reef’s future

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Key fish stocks along the Ningaloo Coast, including within sanctuary areas, have also shrunk so significantly due to the increase in recreational fishing and is causing dangerous interactions between hungry sharks and fishers, according to the report.

However, the outlook found that overall the Ningaloo Coast remained in better shape than most other reef systems and was managed effectively by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, which had recently boosted staff numbers and expanded operations.

Protect Ningaloo director Paul Gamblin said the findings of the report were a “tough awakening” and a timely reminder of the importance of halting the industrialisation of the Exmouth Gulf.

“We’re being put on notice that Ningaloo’s status and health are sliding,” Mr Gamblin said.

“At a time when governments should be doing everything in their powers to reduce pressure on the globally significant Ningaloo-Exmouth Gulf ecosystem, instead the community is having to fend off one major industrial proposal after another.”

Ningaloo Reef is among the most pristine fringing reefs in the world, home to one of the largest known populations of whale sharks as well as more than 200 species of coral, dugongs, and whales.

The area has become a popular tourist destination, with more than 32,000 visitors to the region in 2018 injecting tens of millions of dollars into the local economy.

But the gulf has come under increasing pressure from the oil and gas industry in the last five years, with several plans put forward for the area encroaching into the marine park.

Among the most controversial was a proposal by Norwegian engineering company Subsea7 to fabricate 10-kilometre pipelines and tow them through the Ningaloo marine park for use at offshore oil rigs, which was recently put on hold by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.

The region is now grappling with a proposal by marine infrastructure company Gascoyne Gateway to build a deepwater port near Qualing Pool, home to humpback whales and their calves, dugongs, turtles, and scores of colourful coral.

“Given Ningaloo is already enduring growing pressure, it’s high time we drew a line in the sand and stopped the march of industrialisation towards the Exmouth Gulf, which will only ramp up the stress on the fragile, interconnected Ningaloo ecosystem,” Mr Gamblin said.

Without government intervention, Mr Gamblin said, there was a real chance Ningaloo could be further downgraded to ‘significant concern’ in the next IUCN outlook report, which is due in three years’ time.