Protect Ningaloo - Save Exmouth Gulf

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. 

Exmouth Gulf is globally important and intricately connected to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. It Is known as ‘Ningaloo’s nursery’ and is a stronghold for many threatened marine species. It is also home to one of the world’s largest humpback whale populations.
We’re working to protect this special place from the threat of industrial development, whilst building a sustainable, positive future for the area.
Help us protect Exmouth Gulf, from industrialisation.

Header image: Blue Media Exmouth

Protect Ningaloo

Featured

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.

Watch the trailer

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

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New Exmouth Gulf Taskforce confirms urgent need for environmental protection
Photo credit: Blue Media Exmouth

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Photo credit: Blue Media Exmouth

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Exmouth Gulf is a diverse, unique, world-class environment. An abundance of marine life shelters in the gulf, including many threatened and protected species, such as dugongs, turtles, dolphins, whales, sea snakes and birds – just to name a few! It is also a critical resting and nursing area for one of the world’s largest humpback whale populations.

The Gulf has strong ecological linkages with the renowned Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, including as a nursery and adult foraging ground for many species that live on Ningaloo Reef. Juvenile fish grow in the safety of mangroves before traveling out to the reef. There are still mysteries to solve at this wondrous place and it is a developing frontier for marine science.

The Gulf is under threat from industrial development – we are fighting to protect it, but we need your help.

Protect Ningaloo

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