- NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT VISION FOR THE NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) has more than 550 km of coastline, and forms part of Western Australia’s West Coast Bioregion which includes the ‘Turquoise Coast’ from Guilderton to Dongara and the ‘Batavia Coast’ from Dongara north towards Kalbarri and the Zuytdorp Cliffs. The coastline includes extensive sandy beaches, intact dune systems, limestone cliffs, offshore islands, reefs, estuaries and other coastal habitats. Significant areas are protected within national parks, nature reserves and marine protected areas, including Jurien Bay Marine Park and Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
For more information about the region’s animals and ecological communities, visit the Biodiversity Conservation page. For information about community involvement and use of the region’s natural resources, visit our Community Capacity page.
Several locally developed resources can also help people learn more about the region’s coastal biodiversity:
The coastal and marine areas of the NAR are highly valued for ecological, recreational, cultural, spiritual, social and economic reasons. Aboriginal people have maintained enduring connections with the region’s coastal lands, waters and Sea Country for thousands of years. For Traditional Owners, coastal landscapes, waterways, estuaries, islands and marine environments can hold important cultural, spiritual and customary values, knowledge and stories. Archaeological evidence along parts of the coast includes stone artefacts, shell middens and other Aboriginal cultural heritage places.
The NAR encompasses the traditional Country of a number of Aboriginal peoples and language groups. Across much of the central and northern NAR are Yamatji peoples and groups, including Amangu, Naaguja, Nhanhagardi, Mullewa Wajarri, Widi and Wilunyu. Nanda people are the Traditional Owners of Country in the north-west of the region, including areas around Kalbarri and the lower Murchison River, while Badimia people are Traditional Owners of Country extending into the eastern NAR, including parts of the Perenjori and Dalwallinu areas.
In the southern NAR, Noongar Country extends into the region. The principal Noongar group represented within the NAR is the Yued people, whose Country forms part of the wider Noongar cultural area of south-west Western Australia.
Today these are the main language groups of Yamaji people and their locations:
Recognising and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage and connections to Country and Sea Country is an important consideration in the management of coastal and marine environments. Changes in land use, tenure, management and development should recognise the environmental, cultural, spiritual and historical values of these places and involve appropriate engagement with Traditional Owners.
Information about recorded Aboriginal cultural heritage places across the NAR, including places associated with coastal and marine environments, can be explored through the Western Australian Government’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Inquiry System (ACHIS). ACHIS provides mapped information about Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia; however, the absence of a place from ACHIS does not necessarily mean that Aboriginal cultural heritage is not present.
The Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) coastline extends broadly from south to north and includes sandy beaches and dune systems, limestone platforms, rocky headlands, coastal cliffs, reefs, estuaries and offshore islands. These varied landforms create a diverse range of coastal habitats. Although there is relatively little heavy industry along much of the coastline, a large proportion of the region’s population lives in or near coastal settlements, particularly around Geraldton–Greenough. Coastal environments therefore experience pressures associated with urban and infrastructure development, recreation and other land uses.
For more information about the plants, animals and ecological communities of the Northern Agricultural Region, visit the Biodiversity Conservation page.
Much of the NAR coastline lies within the Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions identified through the Australian Government’s Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA). Coastal wetlands, dunes, limestone systems, heathlands and other coastal environments support a variety of distinctive vegetation communities.
Estuaries and river mouths are important features of the NAR coastline. Their connections with the ocean can vary seasonally, with some systems periodically separated from the sea by sandbars. Restricted exchange with the ocean, together with inputs from their catchments, can make these environments particularly susceptible to changes in water quality, sedimentation and nutrient enrichment.
The region’s estuaries, wetlands and river mouths provide habitat for fish, waterbirds and other aquatic and terrestrial fauna and are particularly important for resident and migratory shorebirds. They are also highly valued for their cultural, recreational and ecological significance. Coastal dunes, heathlands, shrublands, wetlands, islands and rocky environments provide additional habitat for a diverse range of mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates and plants.
One particularly important ecological community occurring in the region is the Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh, which is listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Examples occur at coastal wetlands and estuaries within the NAR, including the Chapman River estuary.
Coastal saltmarsh generally occurs in the upper intertidal zone and is characterised by salt-tolerant vegetation (halophytes), including herbs, grasses, sedges, rushes and succulent shrubs. Saltmarsh environments can also contain non-vascular plants and microorganisms such as algae, diatoms and cyanobacterial mats. These ecosystems provide important habitat and feeding areas for a range of fauna, including resident and migratory shorebirds, and can contribute to nutrient cycling, carbon storage, shoreline stability and water-quality regulation.
The marine environments of the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) support a high diversity of seagrasses, macroalgae, fish, seabirds, marine mammals, invertebrates and other marine flora and fauna. One of the most notable features of the region is the occurrence of both temperate and tropical species. The region’s marine waters also provide important habitat and migration routes for marine mammals, seabirds and other migratory species.
Off the coast of Geraldton, the Houtman Abrolhos is an archipelago of 210 islands, islets and rocks surrounded by extensive coral reefs. The islands occur in three main groups – Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert – and support an exceptional mixture of tropical and temperate marine life. Warm water transported south by the Leeuwin Current enables tropical marine species and extensive coral communities to occur much further south than would otherwise be expected.
The Houtman Abrolhos Marine Park was established in 2019 and encompasses 189 islands within the wider archipelago. The Park protects important terrestrial and marine biodiversity, seabird breeding areas, migratory shorebird habitat, cultural heritage and internationally significant maritime heritage. Management is guided by the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park Management Plan, approved in 2022.
The Houtman Abrolhos is internationally significant for its marine biodiversity, with its islands, coral and limestone reefs, seagrass meadows, macroalgal communities and surrounding waters supporting a distinctive mix of temperate and tropical species, including threatened and migratory species. Similar limestone reefs occur along the central west coast, where reefs, sandy seabeds, seagrass meadows and offshore islands form a diverse mosaic of marine habitats. Seagrass meadows are particularly important, providing feeding, shelter and nursery habitat for fish, Western Rock Lobster and many other marine animals.
A large diversity of habitats and species is well represented within Jurien Bay Marine Park, which extends between Wedge and Green Head and approximately 5.5 km offshore. Its limestone reefs, seagrass meadows, sheltered lagoons, islands and surrounding waters support an unusual mixture of temperate and tropical marine plants and animals. The offshore islands are also important breeding areas for seabirds.
Jurien Bay and nearby islands are particularly important for the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea). The Australian sea lion is endemic to Australia and is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Jurien Bay Marine Park contains important breeding habitat for the species on the west coast of Australia.
The Leeuwin Current is one of the major influences on the marine environment of Western Australia’s coast. This warm ocean current flows southwards along the coast, transporting relatively warm, low-salinity water from tropical regions into temperate Western Australia. Its influence contributes to the unusual overlap of tropical and temperate marine species found along the NAR coast and around its offshore islands.
The Leeuwin Current also influences the life cycle of the Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) and enables tropical marine species and corals to occur at unusually high latitudes. This influence is particularly evident at the Houtman Abrolhos, where extensive coral communities occur alongside temperate and Western Australian endemic species.
The NAR’s marine waters support a diverse range of marine wildlife, including whales and dolphins, marine turtles, sharks and other protected species. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate along the Western Australian coast, while Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) breed at offshore islands, including the Houtman Abrolhos. The Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) is another characteristic species of the NAR’s marine environment, occurring on limestone and coral reef habitats along the coast and around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Marine turtles occurring in the region include loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), with green turtles (Chelonia mydas) known to forage around reefs at the Houtman Abrolhos and near Kalbarri. Sharks include the White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus), while protected syngnathids such as seahorses and seadragons also occur in the region. The islands and parks are also home to important mammal fauna including the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and southern bush rat (Rattus fuscipes).
The NAR offshore islands are particularly important for seabirds. Breeding species include the Houtman Abrolhos Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris melanops), Common Noddy (Anous stolidus), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica), Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis), White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina), Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus), Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) and Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia). Ospreys (Pandion cristatus) and White-bellied Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) also breed on the islands.
Coastal and island habitats also support migratory shorebirds, including Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), and Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). These species depend on coastal wetlands, intertidal flats, beaches and islands for feeding and roosting habitat.
The islands also support terrestrial and intertidal vegetation communities, including mangroves, saltmarsh and salt-tolerant shrublands, which provide important habitat for coastal wildlife.
The coastal and marine environments of the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) are exposed to a range of interacting pressures. Some arise from human use of the coast and marine environment, while others are associated with broader environmental change. Effective management requires consideration of these pressures together because changes to one part of the coastal and marine system can affect biodiversity, cultural values, communities and economic activities elsewhere.
Introduced aquatic species have the potential to become serious pests and can threaten Western Australia’s marine and estuarine biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture, infrastructure and recreational activities. Once an aquatic pest becomes established, eradication can be difficult or impossible, making prevention, early detection and rapid reporting particularly important.
Aquatic pests and diseases can be transported between locations through vessel biofouling, ballast water, marine equipment, aquaculture and seafood products, aquarium organisms and other pathways. Ports, marinas, aquaculture areas and locations receiving vessels from other regions can therefore be important points for aquatic biosecurity surveillance.
Boat owners and other marine users can reduce the risk of spreading aquatic pests by keeping vessels, trailers and equipment clean, maintaining appropriate antifouling systems and checking equipment before moving between waterways.
The community also plays an important role in early detection. Unusual or suspected aquatic pests can be reported to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) through FishWatch on 1800 815 507. Photographs and location information can assist with identification and follow-up.
For more information, visit DPIRD’s aquatic biosecurity information.
Climate change is a major long-term pressure on coastal and marine environments. Changes in ocean temperature, sea level, ocean chemistry, rainfall, winds, currents and the frequency or intensity of extreme events can affect coastal landforms as well as marine species and ecosystems.
The coast of Western Australia is particularly influenced by the Leeuwin Current and by variability in ocean temperatures. Marine heatwaves have already caused significant ecological changes along the Western Australian coast, and marine heatwaves are expected to become more severe and persistent as the climate continues to warm.
Increasing ocean temperatures can affect species distributions, breeding and recruitment, food webs and ecological interactions. Tropical species may expand further south while some temperate species experience reductions or shifts in suitable habitat. Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, macroalgal communities and fisheries can also be affected by marine heatwaves and other climate-related changes.
Sea-level rise can increase the frequency and extent of coastal inundation and contribute to shoreline recession and erosion in vulnerable areas. Climate change therefore needs to be incorporated into decisions about the location, design and management of coastal infrastructure, settlements and conservation areas.
Western Australia’s State Planning Policy 2.6 – Coastal Planning requires coastal hazards and climate change to be considered in land-use and development planning. Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (CHRMAP) provides a framework for identifying coastal risks and developing appropriate long-term responses.
For more information about climate change in the NAR, visit the Climate Change page.
Population growth, tourism and demand for coastal lifestyles place increasing pressure on coastal land. Residential, recreational, tourism, commercial, industrial and maritime development can result in direct loss or fragmentation of coastal habitat and can place additional pressure on dunes, wetlands, estuaries and foreshore vegetation.
Ports, marinas, seawalls, groynes and other coastal structures may also alter natural sediment movement and coastal processes. Development can increase stormwater runoff, pollution, recreational pressure and the demand for public access and infrastructure.
Development in areas exposed to erosion and inundation can also create long-term risks to people, property and public infrastructure. Where development occurs too close to a dynamic shoreline, future management options can become increasingly difficult and expensive.
State Planning Policy 2.6 – Coastal Planning provides the principal State planning framework for development and land-use change within Western Australia’s coastal zone. The policy seeks to protect, conserve and enhance coastal values, provide appropriate coastal foreshore reserves and public access, and ensure that coastal hazards and climate change are considered in planning decisions.
Where coastal assets are exposed to unacceptable risks, management options may include avoidance, accommodation, protection and planned or managed retreat. These approaches are considered through the State’s Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning framework.
Commercial, recreational and customary fishing are important uses of the coastal and marine environments of the NAR. Fishing provides economic, social and cultural benefits but can place pressure on fish stocks and ecosystems if harvest levels and other impacts are not effectively managed. The Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) supports Western Australia’s largest and most valuable fishery and is an important economic and social resource for coastal communities. Other commercial and recreational fisheries also contribute to the regional economy and community use of the marine environment.
Western Australian fisheries are managed using monitoring, stock assessments, harvest strategies, catch and effort controls, spatial closures and other management measures. The condition of individual fish resources varies, so fisheries sustainability is best considered at the level of individual species or resources rather than through a single region-wide measure.
The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource includes a range of demersal species found in the Northern Agricultural Region, including West Australian Dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum), Pink Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and Baldchin Groper (Choerodon rubescens). Many of these species are long-lived and vulnerable to fishing pressure, and key stocks within the West Coast Bioregion are being managed under a long-term recovery framework following historical overfishing. The 2025 stock assessment found that fishing mortality remained above levels required for recovery. In response, commercial demersal fishing in the West Coast Bioregion closed in January 2026, while boat-based recreational fishing for demersal scalefish is closed until spring 2027. These measures aim to reduce fishing pressure and support the recovery and long-term sustainability of demersal fish populations.
The West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery targets the Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) along much of this coast and is WA’s most valuable fishery. DPIRD’s 2025 resource assessment concluded that the Western Rock Lobster resource was at an acceptable level of depletion, with a low risk of unacceptable stock depletion.
Fishing can also affect non-target species and habitats through interactions with protected fauna, discarded fishing gear, anchoring and other activities. Marine parks, fish habitat protection areas, seasonal and spatial closures, gear controls, bag and size limits and other measures contribute to managing these pressures.
Current recreational fishing rules, including licences, bag and size limits, closed seasons and protected areas, are available from DPIRD recreational fishing.
Good water quality is essential for healthy estuaries, seagrass meadows, reefs, fish populations and other coastal and marine ecosystems. Water quality can be affected by activities within coastal catchments as well as activities occurring directly within the marine environment.
Potential sources of pollution and declining water quality in the NAR include agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, wastewater and septic systems, sediment, nutrients, litter and plastics, hydrocarbons, pesticides and other contaminants. Dredging, port activities, boating, aquaculture and other marine industries can also affect water quality if not appropriately managed.
Estuaries and river mouths can be particularly susceptible to nutrient enrichment and sedimentation because water exchange with the ocean may be restricted for periods of time. Excess nutrients can contribute to algal blooms and changes in dissolved oxygen, with flow-on effects for fish, aquatic plants and other organisms.
In marine environments, increased suspended sediment and sedimentation can affect seagrasses, corals, macroalgae and other benthic communities by reducing light availability or physically covering habitat. The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority provides guidance for assessing impacts on marine environmental quality, benthic communities and coastal processes, including specific technical guidance for marine dredging proposals.
Reducing pollutants at their source, protecting riparian and foreshore vegetation, improving stormwater management and preventing litter and marine debris are important measures for protecting coastal and marine water quality.
For more information about catchments, waterways and water quality in the NAR, visit the Water page.
Coastal erosion, inundation and sea-level rise present long-term risks to some of the NAR’s low-lying offshore islands. NACC’s Coastal Hazard Assessment of NAR Islands, completed in 2018, assessed 30 islands – 22 in the Houtman Abrolhos and eight in the Turquoise Coast island nature reserves – for their vulnerability to coastal hazards. The assessment found that a number of islands and their environmental, cultural and infrastructure values could be increasingly exposed to erosion and inundation under future sea-level-rise and storm-surge scenarios.
The Western Australian Government’s 2019 statewide Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots identified 55 coastal erosion hotspots across Western Australia and a further 31 watch-list locations. A number of hotspots and watch-list locations occur along the NAR coast. These areas require ongoing investigation, monitoring, planning or management according to their level of risk.
Erosion, accretion and inundation are natural coastal processes caused by interactions between waves, tides, currents, wind, sediment and weather systems. They become coastal hazards when they threaten people, infrastructure, property, cultural values or important environmental assets.
Storms can cause rapid erosion and inundation, while longer-term shoreline movement may occur over years or decades. Rising sea levels are expected to increase exposure to erosion and inundation in some coastal locations. Different responses may be appropriate at different locations. Options can include avoiding new development in hazard-prone areas, maintaining adequate coastal reserves, monitoring shoreline change, dune and vegetation rehabilitation, accommodation measures, engineered protection and planned or managed retreat.
Engineered protection such as seawalls and groynes can be appropriate in some circumstances but can be expensive, require ongoing maintenance and alter erosion or sediment movement on adjoining sections of coast. Management decisions therefore need to consider the wider coastal system and long-term consequences.
Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (CHRMAP) provides the State framework for assessing these risks and developing adaptation responses. Current State support for coastal planning and adaptation is also provided through programs including CoastWA.
NACC’s Coastal Hazard Assessment of Islands in the Northern Agricultural Region, completed in 2018, provides a NAR-specific assessment of the potential exposure of selected offshore islands to erosion and inundation. It should be read as a study based on the scenarios and information available at the time rather than as a current prediction of future sea level.
H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) is an emerging biosecurity and conservation threat to the Northern Agricultural Region. Australia confirmed its first detections of H5 bird flu in wild migratory seabirds in Western Australia in June 2026, and further detections have also occurred in several Australian states.
The NAR contains important coastal, wetland and island habitats that support resident and migratory birds, including internationally significant seabird breeding colonies at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. The Houtman Abrolhos Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris melanops) has been assessed as being at extreme risk from H5 bird flu. It also presents a potential new threat to Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) which are particularly vulnerable to additional pressures because they are endangered and have small, dispersed breeding populations.
Surveillance has been increased in Western Australia’s Mid West, with government agencies monitoring priority coastal and island locations. Monitoring has included Lancelin and Edwards Island within the NAR. People should avoid handling sick or dead birds or other wildlife and report unusual illness or mortality in wildlife to the relevant authorities. Biosecurity, surveillance and rapid reporting are important for detecting the disease and reducing risks to wildlife and poultry. Reducing other pressures on vulnerable species is also important, as healthier and more resilient populations may be better able to withstand and recover from the impacts of H5 bird flu.
Procedure for H5 avian influenza signs and how to report:
Public access to beaches, foreshores and marine environments is highly valued by NAR communities and visitors. Recreation, tourism and access to the coast provide substantial social and economic benefits, but poorly managed access can damage sensitive coastal environments.
Uncontrolled vehicle access, informal tracks, trampling and camping can damage coastal vegetation, destabilise dunes and contribute to erosion. Recreational activity may also disturb shorebirds, seabirds, Australian sea lions and other fauna, particularly around breeding, nesting or resting areas.
Boating, fishing, diving, surfing and visiting offshore islands can also have localised impacts through anchoring, litter, discarded fishing gear, damage to reefs or vegetation and disturbance of wildlife. These pressures can increase substantially during peak holiday periods.
Sustainable access can be supported through well-designed roads, paths, beach access points and parking areas; fencing and signage; seasonal or permanent closures of sensitive areas; education; appropriate management of four-wheel-drive access; and rehabilitation of informal tracks and degraded dunes.
The State’s Coastwest program specifically supports sustainable recreational and tourism use of the coast, maintenance of recreational amenity and public access, conservation and rehabilitation activities and implementation of coastal management plans.
CoastAdapt also provides information, tools and practical guidance to help communities and coastal managers understand and respond to pressures affecting Australia’s coastlines. Resources cover coastal processes, climate change and sea-level rise, risk assessment, adaptation and other coastal pressures, including the impacts of four-wheel driving on beaches. Visit CoastAdapt and learn more about the impacts of 4WD driving on beaches. For more practical information about protecting beaches along the NAR coast, see the Protect Our Coast brochure.
Access restrictions may also apply to islands, wildlife breeding areas, marine sanctuary zones and other sensitive locations. Visitors should follow current directions from land and marine park managers. Information on marine parks, sanctuary zones and permitted activities is available through Explore Parks WA – Marine Parks, while Explore Parks WA visitor guides provide maps, visitor information and guidance for individual parks and reserves. Visitors should also follow current signs and directions from land and marine park managers.
Native coastal vegetation plays an important role in maintaining healthy dunes, foreshores, wetlands, estuaries and coastal ecosystems. Vegetation stabilises sediments, reduces wind erosion, provides habitat and food for wildlife, filters runoff and helps maintain ecological connections between coastal habitats.
Coastal vegetation in parts of the NAR has been cleared or degraded through historical agriculture and settlement, urban and infrastructure development, recreational access, vehicles, weeds, inappropriate fire regimes, grazing, resource development and other disturbances. Riparian and foreshore vegetation has also been degraded or lost in parts of several NAR river and estuary systems.
Loss of vegetation can make dunes and riverbanks more vulnerable to erosion and can reduce habitat quality and ecological function. Disturbance can also favour invasive plants, creating further challenges for rehabilitation.
Coastal and foreshore restoration commonly involves restricting inappropriate vehicle or livestock access, controlling weeds, stabilising eroded areas, brush or mulch placement where appropriate, and revegetating with locally appropriate native species. Rehabilitation should be planned according to local coastal processes and ecological conditions rather than relying on vegetation alone to prevent natural shoreline movement.
Historic foreshore assessments for waterways including the Chapman, Greenough and Hutt rivers provide useful information about past condition and rehabilitation priorities. However, these assessments should be treated as baseline or historical sources where more recent condition information is not available.
Community groups, local governments, Traditional Owners, land managers and natural resource management organisations all play important roles in protecting and restoring coastal vegetation. The Western Australian Government’s Coastwest and CoastWA programs support coastal planning, rehabilitation and community-based coastal management.
The following resources provide further information about coastal and marine environments, biodiversity, management and threatening processes relevant to the Northern Agricultural Region.
