The Thuwathu-Bujimulla Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) spans across the Wellesley Islands. It is located off the coast of north Queensland in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Dedicated in 2013, the IPA comprises of over 1.6 million hectares of sea country and over 120,000 hectares of land.
The are comprises 22 remote, low-lying continental islands and surrounding expansive reef systems. These harbour extremely rich biodiversity, and contain some of the most significant habitats for threatened sea turtles, shorebirds and seabirds in Australia. The region is also culturally rich. There are over 160 documented sites of cultural heritage significance. These include the largest collection of stone fish traps in the southern hemisphere.
The Wellesley Islands Ranger unit was established in 2016 and is based on Mornington Island. The rangers deliver diverse on-ground land and sea country management activities across the IPA. Directed by the Thuwathu-Bujimulla IPA Management Plan, the Ranger unit works to fulfill the aspirations of the local Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Gangalidda Peoples. These include priority programs in:
- marine turtle and migratory shorebird research
- fire and weed management
- cultural site management and restoration.
State: Qld - Mainland northern region
Administration Organisation
Wellesley Islands Land and Sea Social Economic Development PTY LTD