South-east Marine Region
The South-east Marine Region covers more than 1.6 million square kilometres of ocean adjacent to Victoria, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), southern New South Wales, and eastern South Australia.
About the South-east Marine Region
About the region
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Map of the South-east Marine Region
Source: ERIN
About the South-east Marine Region
The South-east Marine Region extends from waters offshore of southern New South Wales to eastern South Australia and includes waters adjacent to Victoria, Tasmania and Macquarie Island. It covers only Commonwealth waters - the area of Australian jurisdiction that starts outside New South Wales, Tasmanian and South Australian waters (usually 3 nautical miles from the coast) and extends to the outer limits of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone some 200 nautical miles from the shore.
The region is strongly influenced by three major currents:
- The East Australian Current flows southward along Australia's east coast from as far north as the Coral Sea off North Queensland bringing warm waters as far south as southern Tasmania.
- The Zeehan Current flows southward from the Great Australian Bight bringing warmer waters along the continental shelf and down along Tasmania's west coast.
- The cold Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows eastward and influences the major oceans of the world.
The interactions of these major currents result in complex water flows that are an important influence on the species that live in the region, their distribution, and the productivity of south-eastern waters.
The South-east Marine Region is globally significant for marine biodiversity. Around 60 per cent of the species found in the region are not found anywhere else in the world. At the same time many wide-ranging migratory species such as whales, southern bluefin tuna, great white sharks, wandering albatross and short-tailed shearwaters also visit the region.
Background
A Regional Marine Plan for the South-east Marine Region was completed in 2004 through an earlier regional marine planning process established under Australia's Oceans Policy. In 2006, the regional marine planning process was revised and the Marine Bioregional Planning Program commenced, with the planning process being given a legislative basis through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Marine Bioregional Plan for the South-east Marine Region will build on the existing Regional Marine Plan.
A network of marine reserves for the South-east Marine Region was established in 2007 through a separate process to the existing marine bioregional planning process. The South-east marine reserve network is the largest network of temperate and deep sea marine reserves in the world. The network consists of 14 marine reserves with a total area of over 338 000 square kilometres. Thirteen reserves are located around the south-eastern portion of the Australian continent and Tasmania and have a combined area of over 226 000 square kilometres. The fourteenth reserve is located off Macquarie Island, adding approximately 162 000 square kilometres to the marine reserves network in the South-east.
A management plan for the South-east marine reserve network is being developed. In the meantime, interim management arrangements are in operation.
Find out more
Contact
The Director
South-east Marine Region
Marine Division
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Edgar Waite Building
203 Channel Highway
Kingston Tasmania 7050
Southeast.MarinePlan@environment.gov.au
About marine bioregional planning
Marine bioregional planning is being implemented in five large marine regions.