Environment Minister Donna Faragher will today announce the final stage in the creation of Western Australia’s first marine park in the south coast.

The Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is the 13th marine conservation area in the State but the first to be created since 2004.

Situated about 450km south of Perth, the marine park encompasses the 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, the 1,300-hectare Nornalup Inlet and the tidal reaches of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers.

Mrs Faragher said the quiet nature, abundant wildlife and scenic quality of the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park provided a wealth of opportunities for nature appreciation.

“Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is a spectacularly scenic area, largely surrounded by the Walpole-Nornalup National Park where tall forest meets the sea,” she said.

“A major attraction of the inlet system for visitors is the perception of remoteness that can be experienced, particularly in parts of the Nornalup Inlet and the Frankland and Deep rivers.

“Tour boats operating from the town of Walpole allow visitors to experience the marine park’s stunning scenery and get up close to wildlife.

“The permanent opening to the sea, the mixing of fresh and salt water and the dynamic sandy deltas of the marine park create a distinctive habitat for more than 40 fish species, including larger fish such as sharks, which are uncommon in other inlets.”

Seagrasses, algae, a diverse range of shellfish and other animals also live on the marine park’s floor, including some prawn species, the blue swimmer crab and mud burrowing crab.

A wide range of waterbirds also use the marine park. Pelicans, gulls and terns are abundant, and shearwaters, gannets and albatrosses are regularly seen. Ospreys and white-bellied sea eagles can be seen flying over the inlet waters in their hunt for fish. Migratory and Australian shorebirds use the tidal delta flats to probe for worms and small shells and crabs that make their home underground.

“The entire Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is zoned for recreation which allows for recreational fishing to occur in all areas,” the Minister said.

“This zoning will allow uses of the marine park to be managed in an equitable, integrated and sustainable manner by the departments of Environment and Conservation and Fisheries and present opportunities for the local community and visitors to contribute to the management of this important addition to the State’s marine parks and reserves system.”

Mrs Faragher also recognised the unique natural environment of the south coast region between Manjimup and Denmark with the release of a management plan for the Walpole Wilderness area.

“The establishment of the marine park and development of management plans for the marine and terrestrial areas recognise the important ecological and recreational values this region has within the local community,” she said.