South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network
Overview
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MARINE USERS
Transitional arrangements for new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserve estate
From the declaration of Commonwealth marine reserves in November 2012 until management plans come into effect in July 2014, transitional arrangements apply.
- Under the transitional arrangements, there are NO CHANGES ON THE WATER for users of new areas added to the Commonwealth marine reserves estate.
- 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.
Summary
| Name | South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network |
|---|---|
| Network area | 508 605 km2 |
| Depth range | 15 - 6400 m |
| Number of Reserves | 14 reserves (ranging in size from 630 to 272 000 km2)
|
| Types of zoning |
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Key conservation values
- 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.