"text":"These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island"
},
"Geographic coordinates":{
"text":"12 14 S, 123 05 E"
},
"Map references":{
"text":"Southeast Asia"
},
"Area":{
"total":{
"text":"5 sq km"
},
"land":{
"text":"5 sq km"
},
"water":{
"text":"0 sq km"
},
"note":{
"text":"includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island"
}
},
"Area - comparative":{
"text":"about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC"
},
"Land boundaries":{
"text":"0 km"
},
"Coastline":{
"text":"74.1 km"
},
"Maritime claims":{
"territorial sea":{
"text":"12 nm"
},
"contiguous zone":{
"text":"12 nm"
},
"exclusive fishing zone":{
"text":"200 nm"
},
"continental shelf":{
"text":"200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation"
"text":"surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards"
},
"Environment - current issues":{
"text":"illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems"
},
"Geography - note":{
"text":"Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000"
}
},
"People and Society":{
"Population":{
"text":"no indigenous inhabitants",
"note":{
"text":"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"
"text":"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"
"text":"defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force"
}
},
"Transnational Issues":{
"Disputes - international":{
"text":"Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef"