The World Heritage status of the region was created and negotiated in 2011, and the adopted boundary included the
Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters), Ningaloo Marine Park (State waters) and Muiron Islands Marine Management Area (including the Muiron Islands), Jurabi Coastal Park, Bundegi Coastal Park,
Cape Range National Park, and the Learmonth Air Weapons Range. The site was
gazetted on the
Australian National Heritage List on 6 January 2010 under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In 1987, the reef and surrounding waters were designated as the Ningaloo Marine Park. The beaches of the reef are an important breeding ground of the
loggerhead,
green and
hawksbill turtles. They also depend on the reef for nesting and food. The Ningaloo supports an abundance of fish (500 species), corals (300 species), molluscs (600 species) and many other
marine invertebrates. The reef is less than offshore in some areas, such as
Coral Bay. In 2006, researchers from the
Australian Institute of Marine Science discovered gardens of sponges in the marine park's deeper waters that are thought to be species completely new to science.
Conservation controversy During the early 2000s, significant controversy arose over the proposed construction of a
resort at
Mauds Landing, a crucial nesting ground for the
loggerhead turtle. It was also feared that the resort would be generally degrading to the entire marine park. Author
Tim Winton, who lives in the area, was vocal in his opposition to the development. In 2002, when he won the
WA Premier's Book Award, he donated the prize money, equivalent to in , to the community campaign to save the reef. Ultimately the planned resort did not go ahead. However, developers continue to take an interest in the area.
Ningaloo Collaborative Research Cluster The Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster, an extensive research initiative commenced in 2007 within the region, forms a vital part of the
CSIRO flagship Collaboration Fund Research Initiative. The project involves researchers from the CSIRO,
Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre and a range of Australian Universities including
Curtin University of Technology,
Murdoch University,
University of Western Australia,
Australian National University and the
University of Queensland. The project aims to create a dynamic model of Ningaloo that integrates socioeconomic factors and environmental impacts resulting from human activities in the region. This model will be combined with an ecological model of the area, ultimately serving to develop planning tools and management models. The primary goal is to facilitate sustainable utilization of the region's resources. The study entails gathering and analysing socioeconomic data from both tourists and the local communities of
Exmouth,
Coral Bay, and
Carnarvon. It also encompasses the collection of data on the environmental impact of human activities, encompassing natural resource utilization, waste generation, pollution, visual implications, and effects on flora and fauna. The interactive project involves key stakeholders in the region including the
Department of Environment and Conservation, the shires of
Carnarvon and
Exmouth, local tourism organisations and
Tourism Western Australia, the
Gascoyne Development Commission, the
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, researchers from Wealth from the Oceans and Ningaloo Project,
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia,
WA Department of Energy and Resources,
Department of Fisheries, the
Department for Planning and Infrastructure, the Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee and Ningaloo Sustainable Development Office, Yamatji Land and Sea Council representatives, and the Ningaloo research community along with other cluster project members and the state's Ningaloo project. The project involves collaborating with regional planners and managers to analyse the development and management of tourism. ==Specific reserved areas==