Download South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

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)
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Key conservation
values
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Type of zones
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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