Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park is an Australian Marine Park of about 467,054 km² that extends from the islands' shoreline to the limit of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone, roughly 200 nautical miles out^[1]. It was declared in 2022 and is managed by the Director of National Parks.

Together with the Christmas Island marine park, the area has coral reefs, more than 680 fish species, whale sharks, manta rays, marine turtles and tens of thousands of seabirds^[2].

Plant life in the marine park is mostly underwater, in the coral reef communities of the atoll lagoons and fringing reefs.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are coral atolls rising from the deep Indian Ocean, and the marine park protects seafloor features including reefs and seamounts^[1].

The islands lie near 12 degrees south in the tropical Indian Ocean, so the climate is warm and maritime year round.

The Cocos Malay community has a long relationship with the islands, and management plans recognise Malay and Chinese traditional practices^[2]. The Australian Government bought the islands in 1978, and islanders became Australian citizens in 1984^[3].

Parks Australia opened public consultation on the proposed marine park in October 2021, with comments due by 6 December 2021^[1]. The first management plans for the Indian Ocean Territories marine parks were released on 12 February 2025 and set priorities for the next decade^[2].

The park is used for wildlife watching, snorkelling, diving and research. Two small inshore National Park Zones protect the area known as the Rip, next to Direction Island, and Trannies Beach on West Island^[1].

The inshore zone forms a rectangle around the southern atoll and North Keeling Island, extending about three nautical miles from shore. Under the 2021 proposal, recreational fishing is allowed in the yellow Habitat Protection Zone but not in the green National Park Zone. Commercial tourism such as dive tours and charter fishing needs a permit in either zone^[1].

Large offshore green zones prohibit fishing, while inshore yellow zones allow small-scale fishing. The zoning was co-designed with local communities, and management plans focus on biodiversity protection, climate resilience and community stewardship^[2]. Under the proposal, mining is not allowed in either zone^[1].