South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network
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.
Click on the map or select a reserve from the list below
The South-west marine region is extensive and diverse, covering some 1.3 million square kilometres of both temperate and subtropical waters. It extends offshore from the eastern end of Kangaroo Island in South Australia to Shark Bay in Western Australia - adjacent to the longest coastline in the world facing the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
The South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network includes 14 Commonwealth Marine Reserves. The reserves are:
- Abrolhos Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Jurien Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Two Rocks Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Perth Canyon Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Geographe Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- South-west Corner Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Eastern Recherche Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Twilight Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserver
- Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve (includes former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters))
- Murat Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Western Eyre Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Western Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Southern Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve
The reserves will be managed for the primary purpose of conserving the biodiversity found in them, while also allowing for the sustainable use of natural resources in some areas. The reserves include a vast range of ecosystems, habitats and biological communities representative of the South-west marine region. The reserves will help ensure our marine environment remains healthy and is more resilient to the effects of climate change and other pressures.
The South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network includes examples of different marine ecosystems and habitats of the South-west marine region. The reserves will protect the habitat of species endemic to Australia's South-west, including the Australian sea lion and the Australian lesser noddy. They will also provide a level of protection for threatened species that travel long distances and visit the region during important stages of their life cycles, such as the endangered southern right whale. All key ecological features and the region's iconic biodiversity hotspots - Abrolhos, Perth Canyon; Geographe Bay; Naturaliste Plateau; Diamantina Fracture; Recherche Archipelago - are protected - in their entirety or in part - under Marine National Park zoning, where all extractive activities are prohibited.
Australian sea lion
Copyright: CSIRO