South-west Marine Region
Conservation values of the South-west Marine Region
What are conservation values?
The conservation values of a marine region include all marine species and places that are protected under national environmental law as well as a region's key ecological features. Conservation values are therefore those species, features and places of the marine environment that are important in the context of the government's environmental responsibilities.
- Key ecological features are parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity. Key ecological features may be habitats or areas of a region, specific benthic or pelagic features, species groups or ecological communities. The description of key ecological features helps to define Commonwealth waters.
Australia's deepest oceans are found in the South-west Marine Region. The Diamantina Fracture Zone south of Cape Leeuwin plunges to nearly 6 kilometres deep at its maximum.
The region is distinguished by a continental shelf with high wave exposure, dispersed island groups, fringing reefs and sheltered habitats for marine communities. The continental slope is one of the most canyon-rich areas on the Australian margin and vast abyssal plains stretch across the region.
The South-west Marine Region is recognised as an area of global significance for breeding and feeding grounds for a number of protected marine species, including Australian sea lions, southern right whales and white sharks. For example, vulnerable populations of Australian sea lions breed and feed throughout the year in colonies stretching from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia to the Pages Islands in South Australia.
The Perth Canyon is an important conservation feature in the South-west Marine Region. Its large size and shape funnel deep water ocean currents which create cold, nutrient rich habitats which attract large numbers of deep diving mammals to feed including pygmy blue whales and large predatory fish.
Find out more
- The draft South-west Marine Bioregional Plan describes the conservation values and key ecological features of the South-west Marine Region.
- Conservation Values Atlas
About marine bioregional planning
Marine bioregional planning is being implemented in five large marine regions.