The Ashmore Reef Marine National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve Management Plans were approved by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage on 16 November 2001. Notification of the Management Plans was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 25 on 26 June 2002: See Supporting Material. Pursuant to section 373 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Management Plans cease to have effect seven years after commencement, unless they are revoked or replaced earlier with a new plan.