About marine parks
Marine parks are established to protect tidal lands and waters and conserve the natural marine environment while allowing for its sustainable use. They protect habitats, including mangrove wetlands, seagrass beds, mudflats, sandbanks, beaches, rocky outcrops and fringing reefs.
Marine parks include tidal lands and waters up to the highest astronomical tide (the highest level of the tides that can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions and any combination of astronomical conditions). These parks include the subsoil below and airspace above within their boundaries, and the plants and animals within them.
Australia’s first marine park was established in 1937 at Green Island, with the second declared over Heron and Wistari reefs in 1974.
There are three state marine parks in Queensland:
To find out more about visiting marine parks and how marine parks are managed, see Managing marine parks—legislation, zoning, permit requirements.