Activity restrictions

Domesticated animals

Domesticated animals (including dogs and horses) are permitted on marine park beaches that local government authorities or other land management agencies have designated for such activities.

Dogs are not allowed on beaches adjacent to a National Park or Nature Reserve. Horses are allowed on Tyagarah Beach if the owner has a valid marine parks permit.
Domesticated animals are allowed within any marine park zone if they are assisting a disabled person, are a police dog, remain confined to a vessel or vehicle, or if the owner has a marine parks permit.

Motorised vehicles

Motorised vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcylces, motorised bicycles and 4WDs) are not allowed on marine park beaches unless:

permitted by Byron or Ballina shire councils
or are exempted from requiring a permit by these Councils

Anchoring and mooring

Anchoring is generally allowed in the marine park with these exceptions:

anchoring is not permitted on any reef within a sanctuary zone
anchoring is not permitted within 700 m of Julian Rocks trigonometrical station
vessels greater than 25 m in length can only anchor in areas north of Julian Rocks
Note: Anchoring is permitted in all areas in emergency situations; when required for the preservation of life or property

Seven public moorings are provided by the marine park at Julian Rocks for vessels of up to 15 tonnes displacement (up to 10 m in length) in winds of 24 knots or less, and may only be used:

in a manner consistent with the conditions of use displayed on a mooring
for up to 2 hours
by one vessel at a time (does not apply to tenders)
when fishing is not occurring from the vessel
A person cannot attach a vessel to any Zone Marker Buoy in the Marine Park

There are no Private Mooring Areas in the Cape Byron Marine Park

Speed restrictions

In addition to vessel speed limits in place under the Marine Safety Act 1998, all vessels must limit their speed to 4 knots within 200 m of Julian Rocks trigonometrical station, except where required for preserving life or property.

Personal watercraft and hovercraft

The commercial or non-commercial use of motorised personal watercraft (including jet skis) and hovercraft is prohibited within the Marine Park unless used:

by a regulatory authority in the course of its business
for safety purposes (e.g. by surf lifesaving clubs under a marine parks permit)
for an organised event (under marine parks permit including training that requires the use of such craft)

Discharge of ballast water

Ballast water discharge is not permitted within the Marine Park. Any vessel intending to discharge ballast water must exchange ballast water outside the Marine Park.

Hull fouling

Where a vessel is considered to be heavily fouled by marine organisms or poses a reasonable risk of introducing exotic animals and plants to the Marine Park, the vessel must leave the Marine Park, except when required for preserving life or property.

Collecting

Collection of marine plants and animals in the Marine Park is subject to the following regulations:

collecting is not permitted in sanctuary zones or in Mackerel Boulder, Wilsons Reef and Bait Reef, or Lennox Head Boulder Foreshore habitat protection zones
commercial collection for the aquarium trade is prohibited in the marine park
recreational collecting for aquarium specimens is allowed subject to possession of a marine parks permit
collecting marine plants and animals for scientific or educational purposes is allowed in general use and habitat protection zones subject to possession of a marine parks permit

Fish feeding

Fish feeding, including shark feeding, is prohibited in the Marine Park.

Fish cleaning

Fish cleaning and dumping of fish discards is prohibited in sanctuary zones.

Artificial reefs

Please see the policy on Artificial reefs and fish attracting devices in NSW Marine Parks for more information.