Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS – TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS The Commonwealth marine reserves declared in November 2012 are under transitional arrangements until management plans come into effect in July 2014. Transitional arrangements involve NO CHANGES ON THE WATER for marine users. Note, there are no changes to management arrangements in the marine reserves that existed prior to the establishment of the new reserves, that is, the same restrictions on activities will continue to apply even where those reserves have been incorporated into new reserves. More information is available at www.environment.gov.au/marinereserves The South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network protects 508 605 km2 of Australia's marine area through 14 separate reserves. The reserves will be managed for the primary purpose of conserving the biodiversity found in them, while also allowing for the sustainable use of natural resources in some areas. The reserves include a vast range of ecosystems, habitats and biological communities representative of the South-west region. The reserves will help ensure our marine environment remains healthy and is more resilient to the effects of climate change and other pressures. Conservation values The vast waters of Australia's South-west are renowned for some of the most diverse temperate marine ecosystems on earth: from the unique mix of temperate and tropical marine species inhabiting the waters off the Abrolhos Islands, to the scientific frontier of the deep, rugged mountains of the Diamantina Fracture, to the world’s richest known temperate soft-sediment communities of the Great Australian Bight. Other important places include in the reserves network are the Perth Canyon, Geographe Bay, the Naturaliste Plateau, the Recherche Archipelago and Commonwealth waters adjacent to Kangaroo Island and offshore from the Eyre Peninsula. The South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network protects the habitat of unique species, such as the Australian sea lion and the Australian lesser noddy, which are found nowhere else in the world. The reserves also provide protection for migratory species such as the endangered southern right whale which migrates to the calm waters of the Head of the Bight, and to other sheltered bays along the south coast of the region, to give birth to, and nurse, their calves until they are ready to journey into the ocean. South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Network area 508 605 km² Depth range <15 – 6400 m Number of reserves 14 (ranging in size from 427 630 to 272 000 km²) Key conservation values Type of zones Abrolhos Commonwealth Marine Reserve Jurien Commonwealth Marine Reserve Two Rocks Commonwealth Marine Reserve Perth Canyon Commonwealth Marine Reserve Geographe Commonwealth Marine Reserve South-west Corner Commonwealth Marine Reserve Eastern Recherche Commonwealth Marine Reserve Twilight Commonwealth Marine Reserve Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve (includes former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)) Murat Commonwealth Marine Reserve Western Eyre Commonwealth Marine Reserve Western Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve Southern Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve Seasonal calving habitat for the threatened southern right whale Foraging habitat for breeding colonies of the threatened Australian sea lion Foraging habitat for the broad-ranging threatened white shark, blue whale, Indian yellow-nosed albatross and soft-plumaged petrel, and for several species of migratory seabirds Biologically important areas for several whale species, including resting places for migrating humpback whales, areas where sperm whales and killer whales feed, and a migration route for threatened blue whales Fourteen key ecological features—that is, areas and/or species that play a key ecosystem role in the region, such as areas of increased productivity Nine provincial bioregions, nine meso-scale bioregions, 69 depth ranges within provincial bioregions, and 16 seafloor types are represented in the network. Marine National Park Zone (IUCN Category II) - 179 627 km² or 35.3% of network Habitat Protection Zone (IUCN Category IV) - 117 712 km² or 23.1% of network Multiple Use Zone (IUCN Category VI) - 140 004 km² or 27.5% of network Special Purpose Zone (IUCN Category VI) - 61 712 km² or 12.1% of network Special Purpose Zone (Oil & Gas Exclusion) (IUCN Category VI) – 9550 km² or 1.9% of network