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Marine Protected Areas
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Covering 671 square kilometres of Commonwealth ocean territory, the Franklin Commonwealth Marine Reserve is situated off the north western tip of Tasmania, south of King Island. The reserve covers an area of continental shelf waters in a depth range of 50-150 metres.
The Franklin Commonwealth Marine Reserve represents an area of shallow continental shelf ecosystems. It incorporates two major biological zones; the Franklin Zone which runs down the west coast of Tasmania (from which the reserve takes its name) and the biological zone that extends from South Australia and Western Victoria.
This reserve is home to a shallow continental shelf ecosystem that is only 50 to 150 metres below sea level. It provides a feeding ground for a variety of seabirds, including the fairy prion, shy albatross, silver gull, short tailed shearwater, black faced cormorant, common diving petrel and in particular the Australian gannet that breeds at the nearby Black Pyramid Rock, which is one of only eight breeding sites in Australia.
| Proclamation date | 28 June 2007 (to come into effect on 3 September 2007) |
|---|---|
| Size (current) | 67,100 Ha (671 km2) |
| IUCN category | VI – Multiple Use Zone |
| Biogeographic context | Western Bass Strait IMCRA Transition Tasmanian IMCRA Transition |
| Management plan status | In development |
| World Heritage | No |