Celebrating 10 years of Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries

Tuesday 20 November, 2012

Parks Victoria and local Port Phillip friends groups celebrated Victoria’s world class network of marine national parks and marine sanctuaries tenth anniversary over the weekend.

Six local friends groups gathered at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary and Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary on Saturday to celebrate and represented friends groups including Marine Care Point Cooke, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Marine Care, Friends of Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary, Marine Care Ricketts Point and Friends of the Bluff.

Parks Victoria wishes to thank community and recreational groups, volunteers, tour operators, marine scientists, government departments and agencies and all friends of marine national parks and sanctuaries for all their efforts in protecting these special places.

"Victoria is home to some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in the world," said Parks Victoria Chief Executive Dr Bill Jackson. "Like parks on land, marine national parks and sanctuaries help us to preserve these spectacular places under the water for ours and future generations."

Port Phillip is home to a number of marine national parks and sanctuaries including Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary and Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park. Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary and Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary are also nearby.

"Tour operators are ready to take people out to enjoy these great places, and the incredible diving on offer in Victoria. What better way to celebrate the tenth birthday of marine national parks and sanctuaries than to get out there, above or below the water, and see what all the fuss is about."

There are many opportunities for people to get involved with marine national parks and sanctuaries, including the upcoming Summer by the Sea and Junior Ranger Programs this summer.

For more information about tours of marine national parks and sanctuaries, current research projects and how you can get involved call 13 1963