Australia Expands Marine Park Where You Can Catch 12 Species

Imagine a place so alive with marine life that you have to slow your boat to avoid hitting turtles and dugongs swimming beneath you.

That's the reality at Limmen Bight Marine Park, located on Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria east of Katherine. Marranbala rangers patrol these waters daily, watching saltwater crocodiles sun themselves on banks while birds peck between their teeth.

But the real magic happens below the surface. Over 100 hours of underwater camera footage deployed by rangers and university researchers reveal soft corals swaying among seagrass meadows, sharks gliding past, and fish stocks thriving in one of the Territory's most pristine ecosystems.

Lead ranger David Barrett says the seagrass is what makes Limmen Bight special. "It's food for dugong, turtles, but it's also good for fish, prawns, mud crabs," he explains.

The Northern Territory government announced an "imminent" expansion that will add 185 square kilometers to the existing park, including a vast seagrass meadow. The extension creates a continuous protected corridor, fulfilling a promise made during the 2024 election to stop "dithering" on marine conservation.

For recreational fishers like Territory local Ben Rosevear, Limmen Bight is already paradise. "To go out and catch 12 species in a day is not very difficult," he says, standing on a sandy bank where he just hooked a giant queenfish within minutes.

The fishing camp attracts anglers from across Australia who set up for weeks or months at a time. "You can see how clean and pristine it is, and we want to keep it that way," Rosevear adds.

The Ripple Effect

The park expansion is opening doors beyond fishing. Ranger David Barrett sees potential for increased tourism once access roads are upgraded, while visitors like Rosevear envision wildlife tours, birdwatching excursions, and sunset cruises for people without boats.

The NT government recognizes the untapped potential in recreational fishing tourism. Treasurer Bill Yan says the expansion will help put the Territory's wild coastlines on "every fisher's bucket list."

Ranger Emmalou Barrett has witnessed the area's abundance firsthand, recalling times when dugongs and turtles were so plentiful she had to navigate carefully to avoid them. "It was amazing to see that amount," she says.

The expansion protects critical habitat while proving that conservation and recreation can thrive together. As Rosevear puts it simply: "To me, it's one of the most alive places in the Territory."