Karajarri People Dedicate Australia's First 'Sea Country' Indigenous Protected Area
Similar Articles
Ancient Dingo Burial in Shell Mound Reveals Cultural Significance
Walbunja Youth Train to Harvest Invasive Sea Urchins, Launching First Aboriginal-Led Fishing Industry in NSW
Queensland Project Reopens Tidal Flows, Restoring Coastal Ecosystems
Scientists Identify Potential New Habitats for Critically Endangered Gilbert's Potoroo
Australia Grants Alcoa National Interest Exemption for Forest Mining Operations
The Karajarri people have dedicated Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra, Australia's first 'Sea Country' Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). The new IPA covers nearly 587,000 acres of marine and coastal ecosystems, including part of Eighty Mile Beach. This follows the establishment of their land-based IPA and a ranger program built on cultural knowledge.
Facts First
- Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra is Australia's first 'Sea Country' Indigenous Protected Area (IPA)
- The IPA covers 237,489 hectares of marine and coastal ecosystems, including part of Eighty Mile Beach (Malumpurr)
- The dedication occurred in March 2026 and was noted in a government statement by the minister for Indigenous Australians
- The Karajarri people have secured legal land recognition and established a land-based IPA and ranger program over the past 30 years
- The region is ecologically diverse, hosting migratory birds, sawfish, and flatback turtle nesting sites
What Happened
In March 2026, the Karajarri people dedicated Karajarri Jurarr Ngurra, which is Australia's first 'Sea Country' Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). The IPA comprises 237,489 hectares (nearly 587,000 acres) of marine and coastal ecosystems in the Kimberley region, including part of Malumpurr, the Karajarri word for Eighty Mile Beach. Australia's minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, issued a government statement regarding the dedication. This follows over 30 years of work by the Karajarri people, who previously secured legal recognition of their land claims, established a land-based Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) called Karajarri Pirra Ngurra, and developed a ranger program utilizing long-held cultural knowledge.
Why this Matters to You
This dedication represents a significant model for environmental stewardship that may influence conservation approaches elsewhere. The formal protection of this large marine area could help safeguard critical habitats for species like the flatback turtle, which nests on Eighty Mile Beach, and sawfish, contributing to broader biodiversity goals. For the Karajarri people, it strengthens the application of their cultural knowledge in managing their traditional Sea Country.
What's Next
The Karajarri ranger program is likely to be central to managing the new Sea Country IPA. The success of this model could provide a blueprint for other Indigenous groups in Australia seeking to establish similar marine protected areas.