| Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park | |
|---|---|
 View of Seal Bay (withNobby Islet in background) where a Restricted Access Zone is in force. | |
  Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park | |
| Location | South Australia |
| Nearest city | Kingscote |
| Coordinates | 36°08′34″S137°30′10″E / 36.142795°S 137.502661°E /-36.142795; 137.502661[1] |
| Area | 673 km2 (260 sq mi)[2]: 5 |
| Established | 29 January 2009[3] |
| Governing body | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | Official website |
Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park is amarine protected area in the Australian state ofSouth Australia located in state coastal waters adjoining both the south coast ofKangaroo Island and a group of islets located to the south of Kangaroo Island.[1][2]: 5 & 23
The marine park was established on 29 January 2009 under theMarine Parks Act 2007.[3]
The marine park consists of two areas of water.[2]: 5, 23 The first is the portion of state waters on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island to a distance of 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) from ‘median high water’ from the western end of theSeal Bay Conservation Park in the west to the southern headland ofD'Estrees Bay in the east including the waters aroundPelorus Islet.[2]: 5, 23, 26 The second is the extent of state waters around the following exposed islets located about 27 kilometres (17 mi) south-west ofCape Gantheaume - North Rock, Young Rocks and South West Rock.[1][2]: 5, 23–26
The marine park is divided into zones to manage the marine environment to ensure varying degrees of “protection for habitats and biodiversity” and varying levels of “ecologically sustainable development and use” as follows:[1][2]: 5, 13–14, 23–26
The portion of the marine park on the coastline of Kangaroo Island is adjoined by theSouthern Kangaroo Island Marine Park which is a marine protected area managed by the Australian government, on its southern side at the limits of state waters.[4]
As of 2016, the marine park has been classified under theIUCN system of protected area categories with the “restricted access zone” beingCategory Ia, the “sanctuary zone” beingIUCN Category II and the “habitat protection zones” beingIUCN Category IV.[5][2]: 23–26