Home - Australian Marine Parks

Our Marine Parks Grants open for applications

Grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 are available for organisations and communities to take an active role in the management of Australian Marine Parks. Applications close on 4 pm AEST on 27 October 2026. Learn more

Australian Marine Parks help conserve marine habitats and the marine species that live within and rely on these habitats.

These marine parks also provide places for people to watch wildlife, dive, and go boating, snorkelling and fishing. Importantly, they create jobs in industries like fishing and tourism, and provide us with food and energy.

The Australian Government has established 60 Australian Marine Parks around the country. They cover 3.8 million square kilometres, or 43% of Australian waters, and are managed by Parks Australia.

Australian Marine Parks are the largest part of Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, which also includes the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, and marine parks managed by state and territory governments. This national system of marine parks covers over half of Australian waters and is one of the largest areas of marine parks in the world.

Latest marine parks news

Investing in the long-term health of Australian Marine Parks

Thursday 13 August 2026

Applications are now open for a fifth round of the Our Marine Parks Grants program, with a total of $5.6 million made available by the Australian Government.

Shaping and protecting Australia’s ocean for the future

Friday 31 July 2026

The Director of National Parks is preparing to draft new management plans for 44 Australian Marine Parks and expand and strengthen protection at Lord Howe and Norfolk marine parks.

A top-down look at a Dugong swimming through the blue ocean at Ashmore Reef

Parks Australia leads successful voyages to Ashmore Reef Marine Park

Monday 27 July 2026

Parks Australia has led two successful voyages in October 2025 and June 2026 to Ashmore Reef Marine Park, bringing together staff and researchers from Parks Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS), CSIRO, and a specialist in invasive ant management.

A collection of shark teeth collected during trawl on a white background, one is being held in a hand

New deep-sea discoveries reveal hidden life in Australian Marine Parks

Friday 19 June 2026

New discoveries from the depths of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories marine parks are expanding scientific understanding of life far beneath the surface, including ancient shark remains and species previously unknown to science.

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Where are Australian Marine Parks?

Explore Australian Marine Parks

North Marine Parks Network

Temperate East Marine Parks Network

Indian Ocean Territories Marine Parks

South-east Marine Parks Network

Coral reefscape scenery in the Coral Sea off Cairns.

Coral Sea Marine Park

North-west Marine Parks Network

Orcas at Bremer Marine Park. Photo by David Govoni.

South-west Marine Parks Network

How we manage marine parks

Management plans set out how we manage our parks – protecting important marine habitats and species, while allowing people to use and enjoy these special places.

Find out more about how we manage marine parks under these plans by clicking the links below.

Learn more about your marine parks