Shark Bay Marine Park
| Shark Bay Marine Park Western Australia | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
A dolphin at Monkey Mia in the marine park | |
| Nearest town or city | Denham |
| Coordinates | 25°48′S 113°45′E / 25.800°S 113.750°E |
| Established | 30 November 1990 |
| Area | 7,487.25 km2 (2,890.8 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions |
| Website | Shark Bay Marine Park |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
The Shark Bay Marine Park is a protected marine park located within the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Shark Bay, in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The 748,725-hectare (1,850,140-acre) marine park is situated over 800 kilometres (500 mi) north of Perth and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Geraldton.
The marine park is known for its large marine animals, such as the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, turtles, dugongs and sharks. The park and its vast seagrass meadows, with a total of twelve species of seagrass in the park, form an important part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
Major reference points of its boundaries include Steep Point at the south side of Dirk Hartog Island and Cape Inscription at the north side.