Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Indonesian fishermen have long fished in the area around Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. British explorers were the first Europeans to see Cartier Island and Ashmore Reef in 1800 and 1811, respectively. American whalers frequently sailed by the islands in the 1850s and later settled to mine the phosphate deposits on Ashmore Reef, which were exhausted by 1891. The UK disputed US access to Ashmore Reef and formally annexed it in 1878. Cartier Island was annexed in 1909. In 1931, the UK transferred the islands to Australia, which accepted them in 1934 as part of Western Australia. In 1938, Australia transferred governance to the Northern Territory. During World War II, Cartier Island was used as a bombing range. In 1978, governance of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was moved to the federal government. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island became marine reserves in 1983 and 2000 respectively.In 1974, Australia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allow Indonesian fishermen to continue fishing around the islands. The MOU also allows Indonesian fishermen to visit the graves of past fishermen, replenish their fresh water, and shelter in the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Reef. In the 1990s, Indonesia challenged Australia’s claim to the islands, which was settled in a maritime boundary treaty in 1997. The islands were a popular first point of contact for migrants and refugees seeking to enter Australia, so in 2001, Australia declared the islands to be outside the Australian migration zone.

land

5 sq km

note

note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island

total

5 sq km

water

0 sq km

about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

tropical

74.1 km

highest point

Cartier Island 5 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

12 25 S, 123 20 E

note

note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 E

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000

total

0 km

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island; Ashmore Reef is 840 km west of Darwin and 610 km north of Broome; Cartier Islet is 70 km east of Ashmore Reef

Southeast Asia

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

fish

low with sand and coral

note

note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only

total

(2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants

see Australia

conventional long form

Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

conventional short form

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

etymology

named after British Captain Samuel ASHMORE, who first sighted his namesake island in 1811, and after the ship Cartier, from which the second island was discovered in 1800

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

none (territory of Australia)

the flag of Australia is used

the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

defense is the responsibility of Australia

NA

tropical

illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems; sea level rise, changes in sea temperature, and ocean acidification are concerns; marine debris

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)