Protect Ningaloo - Save Exmouth Gulf

Exmouth Gulf is a Western Australian marine wonder of global significance. It’s a humpback whale nursery where dugongs, critically endangered sawfish, manta rays, dolphins, and hundreds of species of fish find refuge. Gardens of corals and sponges, seagrass meadows and mangroves are all found there.

Protect Ningaloo is campaigning to stop the Gascoyne Gateway Port proposal and to ensure the marine park plan will adequately protect all critical habitats within Exmouth Gulf.

We’ve made great progress over years of campaigning to safeguard Exmouth Gulf, but we still have work to do to ensure its remarkable marine life can be sustained for future generations to experience and enjoy.

Header image: Blue Media Exmouth

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In September 2025 the Western Australian Government committed to creating a marine park for the whole of Exmouth Gulf. This is a welcome step in the right direction, but the Gulf is still facing some significant threats.

Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo are experiencing the impacts of climate change after a severe marine heatwave, adding pressure to this fragile environment.  

Meanwhile Gascoyne Gateway Pty Ltd is still seeking environmental approval to build an industrial port south of Exmouth townsite, that would draw large ships into the Gulf and put nursing humpback whales at risk of vessel strike. This proposal is completely incompatible with a marine park and the widely recognised need to conserve this special place. 

Protect Ningaloo is campaigning to stop the Gascoyne Gateway Port and to ensure the marine park will adequately protect all critical habitats within Exmouth Gulf.

The 3-part ABC documentary series ‘Ningaloo Nyinggulu’ tells the story of how supporting thriving ecosystems lead to a healthy planet.
This breathtaking series shot in Western Australia is narrated and written by renowned Australian author and conservationist, Tim Winton (Blueback, Dirt Music, Cloudstreet, Breath). Ningaloo Nyinggulu with Tim Winton reveals a bewildering diversity of wildlife, including one of the only whale shark aggregation sites, the world’s largest humpback whale nursery, a sea snake hotspot, and a refuge for ancient troglobites in the region’s 800+ caves.

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Want to know why Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo's nursery, is special to so many people? Watch this…
©Nush Freedman

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WA Government commitments for Exmouth Gulf marine park welcomed by Australian Marine Conservation Society - Protect Ningaloo

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Photo credit: Blue Media Exmouth

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K+S SALTWORKS CANCELLED!

Plans for the massive K+S saltworks have been cancelled. On 12 June 2025 the company announced that it would no longer pursue the development of the saltworks.  Protect Ningaloo campaigned against the project in Australia and Germany.

Over 17,000 people sent email letters to WA’s environment minister expressing opposition to the project, while billboards and social media campaigns in Germany called on K+S to withdraw the project. The campaign also undertook detailed scientifically-informed analysis to scrutinise the proponent’s proposal during the environmental assessment process.

To everyone who signed letters, wrote a submission, shared their footage, raised awareness and helped us protect this place- thank you. 

There is still much to do with Exmouth Gulf unprotected and threatened by another industrial proposal, but for now, we celebrate this win and everyone who made it happen. 

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