Area5 km²
Introduction
Background
Fishermen from Indonesia have historically engaged in fishing activities in the waters surrounding Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. The first Europeans to observe Cartier Island and Ashmore Reef were British explorers, who encountered the former in 1800 and the latter in 1811. In the 1850s, American whalers often navigated near the islands and subsequently began mining the phosphate resources found on Ashmore Reef, which were depleted by 1891. The United Kingdom contested United States access to Ashmore Reef and officially annexed it in 1878. Cartier Island was claimed in 1909. In 1931, the UK transferred sovereignty over the islands to Australia, which accepted them in 1934 as part of Western Australia. Governance was handed over to the Northern Territory by Australia in 1938. During World War II, Cartier Island served as a bombing range. In 1978, the administration of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was assigned to the federal government. The designation of Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island as marine reserves occurred in 1983 and 2000, respectively.
In 1974, Australia and Indonesia formalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that permitted Indonesian fishermen to continue their fishing practices around the islands. This MOU also grants these fishermen the right to visit the graves of previous fishermen, to replenish their fresh water supplies, and to seek shelter in the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Reef. In the 1990s, Indonesia contested Australia’s claim to the islands, a dispute that was resolved through a maritime boundary treaty in 1997. Given that the islands became a common initial point of entry for migrants and refugees attempting to reach Australia, Australia declared in 2001 that the islands were outside the Australian migration zone.
Geography
Area
land
5 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
5 sq km
Climate
tropical
Terrain
shallow with sand and coral formations
Land use
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Location
Located in Southeast Asia, the area encompasses islands in the Indian Ocean, positioned between northwestern Australia and Timor Island; Ashmore Reef is situated 840 km to the west of Darwin and 610 km to the north of Broome; Cartier Islet lies 70 km to the east of Ashmore Reef
Coastline
74.1 km
Elevation
lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point
Cartier Island 5 m
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
enclosed by shoals and reefs that may present navigation risks
Geography - note
The Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve was created in 1983; the Cartier Island Marine Reserve was established in 2000
Natural resources
fish
Area - comparative
approximately eight times larger than the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
12 25 S, 123 20 E
People & Society
Population
total
no permanent inhabitants
Environment
Climate
tropical
Land use
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Environmental issues
unlawful slaughter of safeguarded fauna; excessive fishing practices; rising sea levels, alterations in ocean temperature, and acidification of marine environments; oceanic litter
Government
Flag
Australia's flag is utilized
Citizenship
see Australia
Country name
etymology
named for British Captain Samuel Ashmore, who was the first to observe the island in 1811, and for the vessel Cartier, which led to the discovery of the second island in 1800
conventional long form
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Legal system
the legislation of the Commonwealth of Australia and the legislation of the Northern Territory of Australia, where relevant, are enforceable
Dependency status
territory of Australia; governed from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (territory of Australia)
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military & Security
Military - note
The obligation for defense falls upon Australia.
