The Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) provides both spatial and textual information about government, Indigenous and privately protected areas for Australia, in both the marine and terrestrial environments. State, Territory and the large NGO conservation agencies supplied data current for 30 June 2024. CAPAD provides a snapshot of protected areas that meet the IUCN definition of a protected area: "A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values." (IUCN Definition 2008).The department publishes a summary of the CAPAD data biennially on its website at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad.

The Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2018 provides both spatial and textual information about government, Indigenous and privately protected areas for Australia, in both the marine and terrestrial environments. This dataset is the marine component of the CAPAD only. Marine CAPAD provides information about off-shore protected areas in both state and Commonwealth waters. State and Territory conservation agencies supplied data current to 30 June 2018. This is the ninth version of the marine database, with previous versions released in 1997, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.The Department also publishes protected areas data for the terrestrial environment. The terrestrial component of the database has been previously released in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.CAPAD provides a snapshot of protected areas that meet the IUCN definition of a protected area: "A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values." (IUCN Definition 2008).The department publishes a summary of the CAPAD data biennially on its website at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad.CAPAD 2018 is available for use through the CC-BY 4.0 licencing model.The main attributes of Marine CAPAD 2018 are described below. For more information please refer to the CAPAD Technical Specification document.Marine CAPAD 2018 Attributes:PA_ID: A unique three digit code for the protected area that should persist between versions of CAPAD. This field was named 'PA_ID_grp' in CAPAD 2016.PA_PID: A unique code for a parcel or zone within a protected area that should persist between versions of CAPAD. The first three digits of the PA_PID code (the PA_ID) are common to all component polygons of a single protected area. This field was named 'PA_ID' in previous versions of CAPAD.NAME: The official (gazetted) name of a protected area.TYPE: The type of protected area according to the establishment mechanism. e.g. Marine National Park, Marine Sanctuary, Indigenous Protected AreaTYPE_ABBR: The abbreviation of the protected area TYPE.AMP = Australian Marine ParkAQR = Aquatic ReserveCA = Conservation AreaCP = Conservation ParkDPAA = Dugong Protection Area (A)DPAB = Dugong Protection Area (B)DS = Dolphin SanctuaryFHAA = Fish Habitat Area (A)FHAB = Fish Habitat Area (B)FHPA = Fish Habitat Protection AreaGR = Game ReserveIPA = Indigenous Protected AreaLS = Rock Lobster SanctuaryMCA = Marine Conservation AreaMMA = Marine Management AreaMNP = Marine National ParkMNR = Marine Nature ReserveMP = Marine ParkMS = Marine SanctuaryNP = National ParkNPC = National Park (Commonwealth)NPS4 = National Parks Act - Schedule 4 park or reserveNR = Nature ReserveS5G = 5(1)(g) ReserveS5H = 5(1)(h) ReserveSH = Shipwreck ReserveIUCN: the IUCN protected area management category ascribed by the managing authority.IA = Strict Nature ReserveIB = Wilderness AreaII = National ParkIII = Natural Monument or FeatureIV = Habitat/Species Management AreaV = Protected Landscape/SeascapeVI = Protected area with sustainable use of natural resourcesNR = (Not Reported) - For protected areas where an IUCN category is unknown and/or the data provider has not provided any related information.NA = (Not Applicable) - Denotes an area that does not meet the NRS criteria or the IUCN definition of a protected area but has management complimentary to the NRS.NAS = (Not Assigned) - The protected area meets the standard definition of protected areas but the data provider has chosen not to use the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories.NRS_MPA: This attribute indicates the status of the protected area in terms of meeting the standard for inclusion in the NRSMPA. For marine reserves refer to the document “Guidelines for Establishing the National Representative System of Marine