The Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Management Plan was approved by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage on 5 February 2002. Notification of the Management Plan was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 26 on 3 July 2002: See Supporting Material. Pursuant to section 373 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Management Plan ceases to have effect seven years after commencement, unless it is revoked or replaced earlier with a new plan.