KIMBERLEY'S KARAJARRI RANGER PROGRAM EXPANDS INTO OPEN WATER

Coastal Area protected by the Karrajarri Rangers. Credit: Facebook, Karrajarri Rangers.

A Kimberley rangers program is expanding to focus more on protecting ocean habitats. 

The Karajarri Rangers in the Kimberley have historically limited their marine protection to monitoring coastal areas, but now they are planning to expand to protect more deep-water environments. 

The Rangers are planning to use a sea monitoring vessel and will conduct a range of new tasks such as monitoring both seagrass and illegal fishing.

Karajarri Ranger Jesse Ala’l said further ocean monitoring is important to understand what areas need to be protected from potential industrial development. 

“This coastline is always really sort after as a potential space for industry to come in and out,” he said.

“People are always looking to develop the Kimberley, and in order to do that they need to a port somewhere.

“The Karajarri coastline is quite an accessible place, so we really need to get as much information as possible about the coastline so we know where it needs to be protected.”

Listen to the full interview with Mr Ala’l: