| Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
 Viewing platform at the Head of the Bight | |
  Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary | |
| Location | South Australia |
| Nearest city | Fowlers Bay |
| Coordinates | 31°29′36″S131°09′30.9″E / 31.49333°S 131.158583°E /-31.49333; 131.158583 |
| Area | 435.87 km2 (168.29 sq mi)[2] |
| Established | 22 June 1995[3] |
| Governing body | Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2016) |
Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary was amarine protected area in the Australian state ofSouth Australia located immediately off the coastline of theGreat Australian Bight in waters about 790 km (491 mi) west-northwest of the state capital ofAdelaide.
It extended from 130 degrees 45.5 minutes east at its western boundary to 131 degrees 30 minutes east at its eastern boundary, and from the coastline for a distance of 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi).[2] It was bounded by theGreat Australian Bight Marine National Park to its immediate west and east and its extent included the bay known as theHead of Bight. It was also part of the group of marine protected areas which are located together in waters within Australian and South Australian jurisdictions within theGreat Australian Bight and which is collectively known as theGreat Australian Bight Marine Park.[4] Since late 2012, both the whale sanctuary and the national park have also been within the boundaries of theFar West Coast Marine Park.[5]
The whale sanctuary was originally proclaimed as amarine park under theFisheries Act 1982 (SA) by theSouth Australian Government on 22 June 1995 to protect waters used bySouthern right whales for breeding and calving.[3] It was re-classified as anaquatic reserve after the repeal of theFisheries Act 1982 by theFisheries Management Act 2007 (SA) in 2007.[6] It was abolished on 20 October 2016.[7]
The whale sanctuary was classified as anIUCN Category Ia protected area.[1]