Habitats
Marine Water
the park encompasses approximately 840 ha of Jervis Bay waters, lying to the south of a line between Captains Point and the northern tip of Bowen Island. This area comprises approximately seven per cent of Jervis Bay and 13 per cent of the total area of the park.
Jervis Bay is known for its high water clarity. This is due to the following factors:
- no major rivers flow into the Bay so very little sediment or other river-borne material is deposited;
- the entrance is flanked by rocky coast with no beaches of any size and the cliffs plunge straight into deep water for most of their length;
- no heavy industry is present in the Bay; and
- a moderate degree of urban development means there is limited sewerage discharge.
The bay has an excellent representation of largely pristine marine environments of the southeastern temperate region of southeast Australia. The marine environment of Booderee National Park is characterised by a wide range of tidal and subtidal habitats. These include shallow rock reefs and sand zones, seagrass meadows, deeper silty- sand flats and deep water rocky reefs, cliffs, platforms, blocks, boulders and caves. Features of special interest include a sand delta (comprising a concave sand bank a short distance inside the channel between Bowen Island and Governor Head), shallow rock platforms with associated algal communities and extensive seagrass beds. Other representative features include pineapple fish, rock lobsters, wobbegong sharks, octopus "gardens" and sargassum and kelp beds. Bowen Island is of high conservation significance as it supports a substantial colony of the little penguin Eudyptula minor, and breeding colonies of three species of shearwater protected by the international Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement treaties (JAMBA and CAMBA).
The intertidal rock platforms of Bowen Island are particularly significant as they harbour a great variety of intertidal organisms including large numbers and varieties of sea urchins, crabs, abalone, oysters and other organisms depleted elsewhere by human collection and foraging. There are few if any other areas where such a diversity of marine habitats and biota occur in such a small and easily accessible area, situated close to major population areas. Many species present in the marine environment are at the northern and southern limits of their ranges. The littoral and sub littoral plant communities of the Bay are of both local and state wide significance.
The clear waters of the Bay enable the growth of extensive seagrass beds and support a rich diversity of marine life. The seagrass beds contain three genera: Posidonia, Zostera and Halophila. The seagrass areas are of special interest as they rank fifth of the 133 estuaries in terms of total seagrass species found in NSW. Due to the clarity of the Bays waters and deeper penetration of light some plant species (such as seagrass Posidonia sp.) are located at greater depths than expected. These areas provide habitat for a diversity and abundance of fish and macro invertebrates. Subtidal and intertidal platforms support a diversity of rocky reef algae with Hormosira, Ecklonia, Sargassum, Phyllospora and Cystophora being the dominant genera.
The foreshores of Booderee National Park are generally in a natural condition with a few exceptions.
Increasing urbanisation in the catchment area and discharge of effluent and stormwater runoff into the Bay could significantly diminish water clarity. Water from Bherwerre Peninsula flows in varying directions - into Jervis Bay, St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Wreck Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Maintaining the high water quality and clarity of Jervis Bay is dependent on land managers around the Bay ensuring that freshwater runoff does not contain pollutants, excessive nutrients or suspended matter.
The Control of Naval Waters Act 1918 applies to the waters of Jervis Bay and the ocean waters outside the Bay are official naval exercise areas. Naval manoeuvres marine exercises and fleet visits are common. The waters of the park contain 14 specified naval anchorages.
The majority of Jervis Bay is under New South Wales's jurisdiction and is included in the declared Jervis Bay Marine Park. The Bay is surrounded by New South Wales's lands, some managed by the Australian Government for Defence purposes and the park. Close cooperation with the New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service, New South Wales Fisheries and other New South Wales land management agencies, Shoalhaven City Council and the Department of Defence is essential for effective, long-term conservation of the marine waters of the park.
A number of activities are undertaken in the waters of Booderee National Park. These include:
- A range of recreational activities
- Scientific research
- Educational activities
- Commercial tourism operations
- Naval activities