Resources
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
The EPBC Act is the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places.
Why the EPBC Act matters for Ningaloo:
- Ningaloo Reef is home to numerous threatened species protected under the EPBC Act
- Whale sharks, dugongs, turtles, and humpback whales are all listed species
- Any development that may impact these species requires assessment under the EPBC Act
- The Act provides for public comment on proposed developments
Threatened Species at Ningaloo
The following species found at Ningaloo are protected under the EPBC Act:
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Vulnerable
- Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Listed marine species
- Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) - Endangered
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Vulnerable
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) - Vulnerable
- Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) - Vulnerable
Useful Links
EPBC Act - Department of Environment
Species Profile and Threats Database
EPBC Act Publications
