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Marine Protected Areas
Coral at Mermaid Reef, Australian Institute of Marine Sciences
The Rowley Shoals, including Mermaid Reef, have national and international significance due to their pristine character, geomorphological interest and diverse fauna, including species which have not been recorded elsewhere in Western Australia. The three reefs of the Rowley Shoals have been described as the most morphologically perfect examples of shelf-edge reefs occurring in Australian waters. Each reef includes spectacular and unusual underwater topography and life forms that have attracted recreational divers from all over the world.
Mermaid Reef and the other two reefs of the Rowley Shoals have been listed on the Register of the National Estate, and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has included Rowley Shoals in its list of coral reefs of international significance.
The Rowley Shoals, including Mermaid Reef, has an abundance and variety of marine wildlife which is in a relatively undisturbed condition. While little is known of the marine flora, collections and surveys have been made of some of the major groups of marine fauna such as the corals, echinoderms (for example, starfish and sea urchins), molluscs (for example octopus, squid and shells), sponges and fish. For example, there are known to be more than 200 species of corals in the Rowley Shoals reefs, with the clear waters allowing coral communities to exist over a great depth range. The reefs have biogeographic value due to the presence of species which are at or close to the limit of their distribution.