West Cape York Marine Park protects part of what is believed to be the largest single continuous seagrass meadows in Australia, providing year-round grazing for dugongs and turtles. Like much of the Gulf of Carpentaria, this marine park is relatively shallow, and it includes extensive tidal banks and offshore reefs. The waters of the park receive higher wave energies than other areas in the Gulf, helping to drive primary production and diversity.

West Cape York Marine Park is at the northern end of Cape York, 25 kilometres from Thursday Island (Waiben). The park abuts the maritime border with Papua New Guinea and is adjacent to the Torres Strait Protected Zone which is subject to the Torres Strait Treaty with Papua New Guinea. The park covers 16,012. It has National Park, Habitat Protection and Special Purpose zones. – Parks Australia

West Cape York ranges from less than 5 to 67 metres depth, with an average depth of 32 metres. The majority of the park (51%) falls within the mesophotic zone (30-70 metres). [View on map]