We look after our parks by carefully and thoughtfully applying a range of zones to different areas of our oceans.

Zones and rules

Zones set out what you can do in marine parks. There are three main types of zones: ‘green’, ‘yellow’ and ‘blue’.

• Green zones offer a high level of protection for conservation features like canyons, seamounts and reefs.
• Yellow zones support activities like fishing and diving, so long as the seafloor is not harmed.
• Blue zones allow a wider range of activities, supporting our sustainable commercial industries and the coastal communities that rely on them.

Active, collaborative and adaptive

Parks Australia has management plans in place that set out how we manage Australian Marine Parks.

We’re using some of the latest technologies to take an active, collaborative and adaptive approach to our management. But we need your help to do it.

• We’ve established advisory committees for the Coral Sea Marine Park and the North, North-west, South-west, South-east, and Temperate East Marine Parks Networks.
• Through online tools and information, we’re bringing your marine parks to you, from the central desert to the tropics, wherever you are. Check out information on this site about marine parks and how we manage them.
• Citizen science. We’re all passionate about marine parks. Help us manage them. 
• We’re enabling scientific experts from programs like the National Environmental Science Program to actively contribute with their knowledge and skills on voyages of discovery.
• We’re working with agencies such as the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to help commercial fishers do the right thing.
• We’re working with Australian Border Force to target illegal fishing, such as foreign vessels after our valuable beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) in the Coral Sea.
• We’re working with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, a world leader in responding to marine emergencies.
• We are working closely with those who already manage marine parks like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and our state and territory colleagues, applying their advice and experience to manage our oceans as a whole.