Values of the South-east Marine Parks Network
Values are broadly defined as:
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Through effective design and management, the South-east Network can enhance social and economic benefits for people, businesses and the economy, provided by the values within marine parks.
Summary of values in the South-east Network
Statement of significance
The South-east Marine Parks Network (South-east Network) covers 701,927 km2 and includes 14 marine parks. It was designed to protect representative examples of the region’s ecosystems and biodiversity in accordance with the Goals and principles for the establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (ANZECC, 1998).
First Nations values
Traditional Owner articulation of values The South-east Saltwater Council provides the following articulation of values: Traditional Owners cultural and other values specifically acknowledge the deep and unbroken connection between our people and Sea Country, as an intrinsic part of our identity − past, present and future. Our values include respect and responsibility for the health and wellbeing of Country and people. Country is viewed as interconnected and interdependent, with artificial or imposed colonial boundaries, and siloed approaches to management − being opposite and often detrimental to our values, cultural practices, beliefs and knowledge about sustainable uses. Our cultural values and knowledge systems − passed down through generations − include creation stories; discrete men’s and women’s cultural practices and obligations to care for Country; knowledge about how to care for Sea Country and conduct of cultural and other practices; knowledge about places and objects such as sites to be protected, species, biodiversity and ecosystem priorities, conservation and protection. |
First Nations Values will be identified collaboratively with Traditional Owners over the implementation of the management plan through the development of values statements to inform management. This process will use methods that respect and uphold the cultural authority, integrity and role of Traditional Owners as knowledge holders and managers of Sea Country.
Examples of First Nations values identified in the plan include:
- Ancient land bridge – Areas that are now under the sea in the South-east Network were part of the landscape used by First Nations people during the late Pleistocene (ice age), before sea levels stabilised at current levels about 7,000 years ago. This large area of submerged paleo-landscape connected Lutruwita (Tasmania) to the mainland and was lived on for thousands of years before it was submerged. The flooding of this Country is also a form of oral tradition, detailed in stories that have been passed down through thousands of generations. Several marine parks overlap with this submerged paleo-landscape, including Beagle, Flinders and Apollo Marine Parks.
- Culturally significant species – Many areas of the South-east Network are important for culturally significant species. Mutton birds, seals and whales are wide-ranging animals that feed in and migrate through many parks in the network. First Nations people have a cultural obligation to care for these and other marine animal resources. Coastal marine environments and offshore marine environments are also interconnected, and the marine parks in the South-east Network have an important role in supporting inshore marine resources.
- Songlines and stories – First Nations people continue to honour ancient saltwater songlines, migrations, stories and ancestral connections that intersect with areas of the South-east Network. This knowledge is sacred and has been passed from generation to generation.
- Sea Country IPAs − At the time of making this plan the proposed Tayaritja Milaythina Muka Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) overlaps Flinders Marine Park. This is the first Sea Country IPA consultation project in the South-east Network. It extends from northeast Lutruwita/Tasmania over the submerged land bridge and surrounds Tayaritja/Bass Strait Islands. The aim of the Tayaritja Milaythina Muka IPA consultation project is to protect culturally and ecologically important habitats and species.
East Gippsland Marine Park
Natural values
The Park protects the following ecosystems
- Shelf sediments
- Upper-slope sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments.
A key ecological feature of the Park is the upwelling east of Eden. This area of high productivity results from the mixing of cool and warm water creating phytoplankton blooms that support an abundance of zooplankton, fish, marine mammals and seabirds.
The lower slope supports a diverse invertebrate fauna including large red spiny king crab, squat lobsters, finned octopus, sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea spiders, shrimp, crinoids and sea whips, polychaetes and bivalves.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 7 species of albatross (some listed endangered/vulnerable)
- wedge-tailed shearwaters
- white faced storm petrels
- pygmy blue whales.
Beagle Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects Mesophotic rocky reefs ecosystems.
The park’s mesophotic reefs are a key ecological feature and natural value of the South-east Network. These reefs are thought to be relict coastal dunes that formed on the Ancient Land Bridge and are a rare ecosystem in the bioregions within Bass Strait. This area is exposed to large currents which support high biological productivity, and diverse communities of sessile invertebrates, sponges and fishes.
Aggregations of hundreds of predominantly female Port Jackson sharks were observed in 2018 and 2024, indicating that these reef features are important for the species during winter foraging migrations to Bass Strait.
Rubble fields in the centre of the park function as reefs, providing habitat for sessile filter feeding invertebrates including bryozoans, hydroids and sponges.
The shallower eastern section of the park is dominated by linear ridges, less than 1 m in height, that also support a diverse sessile filter feeding invertebrate community dominated by bryozoans and sponges.
The deeper mobile dunes support patches of doughboy scallops.
- The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 6 species of albatross (some listed endangered/vulnerable)
- 2 species of petrel
- short-tailed shearwater
- little penguin
- white shark
- southern right whale
- pygmy blue whale.
Other protected matters
Two known shipwrecks are located in the park. The SS Queensland sank in 1876 after colliding with another ship while travelling from Melbourne to China. The SS Cambridge sank in 1940 after hitting a World War II mine and now lies 67 metres below the surface. Other shipwrecks may occur in the park, as 3 other ships have been lost in the vicinity but are yet to be found.
Flinders Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Mesophotic rocky reefs
- Rariphotic shelf reefs
- Canyons
- Upper-slope reefs and sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Abyssal reef and sediments.
The mesophotic reefs in the north west corner of the park support a diverse benthic community, including large gorgonian fans and soft coral species that have not been found elsewhere in the South east Network. The mesophotic reefs found in the centre of the western boundary are dominated by red cup sponges. On the outer shelf, mesophotic reefs are characterised by long linear ledges that support a diverse sessile invertebrate community, including southern rock lobsters.
The shelf break is largely sediment draped, with only a few reef features. Midway along the shelf break, two canyon incisions expose reef habitat. The unique fish communities associated with these rare shelf break reefs are a key natural value in the South-east Network.
The fragile and rare communities of black corals and octocorals are another key natural value of the parks. The upper slope reef and canyons support these corals and conservation-dependent shark species, including the Harrisons dogfish and southern dogfish.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 7 species of albatross (some listed endangered/vulnerable)
- 2 species of petrel
- short-tailed shearwater
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
Freycinet Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Mesophotic rocky reefs
- Rariphotic shelf reefs
- Upper-slope sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Abyssal reef and sediments
- Seamount sediments.
A key natural value of the South-east Network is Joe’s Reef, a structurally complex mesophotic/rariphotic reef covered in diverse invertebrate fauna including sponges, gorgonian fans, mushroom corals, and rare tree-forming black coral. This reef supports a diverse fish assemblage dominated by reef-associated species which is another unique feature within the South-east Network.
Similarly, another key natural value for the network is the unique fish communities associated with the sediment-draped shelf break reefs found within the park.
There are several other small isolated patch reefs, as well as soft sediment habitats across the park that also support diverse fish assemblages.
Low-profile dune-like ridges are likely consolidated relic glacial coastal dune features drowned by sea level rise following the last glacial period. These soft sediment and reef habitats rarely have hard-rock outcropping and are typically covered in a fine layer of sand or silt with emergent small sponges and bryozoan/hydroid turf matrix.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 7 species of albatross (some listed endangered/ vulnerable)
- 3 species of petrels
- short-tailed shearwater
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
Huon Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Mesophotic rocky reefs
- Rariphotic shelf reefs
- Upper-slope sedimentsMid-slope reefs and sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Seamount sediments.
The ~150 Huon seamounts, Australia’s largest known cluster of seamounts, support globally significant, diverse, and fragile deep-sea coral communities. Benthic communities are dominated by fragile, slow-growing deep-sea coral communities and in the deeper waters by urchins. The deep-sea coral communities, globally recognised for their diversity, include stony reef building corals and octocorals, which provide habitat for a variety of other species.
The Patience Seamount is the only known spawning site for oceanic eels globally. Basketwork eels are apex scavengers and are an important species for ecosystem function, making it a key natural value for the South-east Network.
Handfish have been recorded in the park and are also considered a key natural value. Species identifications are yet to be confirmed but appear to include the vulnerable Ziebell’s handfish, the pink handfish and potentially other species, some of which may be undescribed species new to science.
The mesophotic and rariphotic reefs provide habitat for rock lobster, an apex predator important for ecosystem function, and a diverse fish community. The shallowest parts of the reef support small patches of golden kelp and red algae. The deeper areas of the reef support an extensive low-profile sessile invertebrate matrix and soft bryozoans, gorgonian and bramble corals, sea whips, colonial anemones and a diverse range of sponges.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 7 species of albatross
- 2 species of Shearwaters
- 2 species of petrels
- Australasian gannet
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
Other protected matters
The Tasmanian Seamounts Commonwealth Heritage Area lies within the Huon Marine Park. The seamounts were listed because they support a deep-sea benthic community characterised by high biodiversity and endemism and long-lived, slow-growing species vulnerable to disturbance.
South Tasman Rise Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Abyssal reef and sediments
- Seamount sediments.
The large, submerged plateau of continental rock on the western side of the park is believed to be the last remnant of the link between Australia and Antarctica. This plateau includes the largest area of mid-slope ecosystem in the South-east Network. Deep-sea coral communities may occur on the shallower parts of this plateau.
The park contains several guyots, flat-topped seamounts, rising about 2,300 m above the seafloor. The flat tops are evidence they were once above the ocean’s surface, where they were shaped by wind and wave erosion.
Tasman Fracture Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Rariphotic shelf reefs
- Upper-slope sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Abyssal reef and sediments
- Seamount reefs and sediments
The small cluster of seamounts are a key ecological feature of the park. Nearby canyons cause a combination of ocean currents and upwelling resulting in an area of high productivity. The large aggregation of orange roughy, oreo dories and a diverse range of deep-sea sharks at Main Matt Seamount is a key natural value and unique to the South-east Network. These species are likely key species for ecosystem functioning.
The Tasman Fracture Zone, an extensive ridge and trench complex, is a unique geomorphic feature for the South-east Network making it a key natural value. It provides habitat for a high biomass of deep sea communities not found elsewhere in the South-east Network, such as anemones and barnacles.
Several small high profile rariphotic reefs in the park support a diverse sessile invertebrate community and uniquely a high abundance of soft corals. These reefs also support diverse fish communities and provide important habitat for rock lobsters, a keystone species in reef ecosystems.
Tasman Fracture is home to a range of rare and significant marine species, including the collar seahorse, which represents only the third recorded sighting globally. The area also supports up to four species of handfish, including the pink handfish, which has not been observed in the wild for more than 22 years before its rediscovery in 2021.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 6 species of albatross
- 2 species of shearwaters
- 2 species of petrels
- Australasian gannet
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
The park is also a core foraging area for post-fledgling Tasmanian endemic endangered shy albatross (Endangered). Fur seals also feed in the park.
Zeehan Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Rariphotic shelf reefs
- Upper-slope reefs and sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Canyons
- Abyssal reef and sediments
A key ecological feature of the park is the system of five canyons that extend from the shelf edge to the abyssal plain, with rocky outcrops that support a highly diverse sponge community and associated fauna.
On the continental shelf, the eastern third of the park is dominated by bare rippled sand. The middle third has flat pavement rariphotic rocky reef with step features several kilometres long and is characterised by a distinct community of fan worms and hard bryozoans. In the western third the reef is fractured into distinctly elevated blocks up to 5 m high and covered in bryozoan turf and thicket interspersed with large sponges, sea whips and large hard bryozoans.
The shelf-edge communities are characterised by a low relief turf and thicket of bryozoans, sponges and ascidians (sea squirts) that provide habitat for a variety of other fauna, including corals, hydroids, crustaceans, sea stars, brittle stars, molluscs and fish.
The rare outcropping of upper reef slopes is a key natural value for the South-east Network. The elongate rocky terraces on the upper slope provide habitat for sessile and mobile fauna, including giant crabs.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 6 species of albatross
- 2 species of shearwaters
- common diving petrel
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
Zeehan Marine Park provides core foraging areas for early incubating endangered Tasmanian endemic shy albatross (Endangered) from Albatross Island.
Franklin Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects Mesophotic rocky reefs ecosystems.
The north-east corner of the park contains a complex mesophotic reef likely formed by volcanic lava flows. At its shallowest, Ecklonia radiata kelp forests occur – a rare habitat only found in 2 parks within the South-east Network.
Deeper reef areas support diverse communities of red macroalgae, sponges, gorgonians, bryozoans and tube worms, with additional mesophotic reefs along the eastern boundary.
Patchy mesophotic and rariphotic reefs occur throughout the park, supporting macroalgae, gorgonians and sponges, though they are less diverse than the main complex mesophotic reef.
In the south, low profile rariphotic reefs, likely limestone pavement, are frequently sand inundated but still support a diverse sponge community at step features.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 6 species of albatross (one listed vulnerable)
- 2 species of petrels
- little penguin
- Australasian gannet
- short-tailed shearwater
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered).
Boags Marine Park
Natural values
Boags Marine Park represents an area of shallow ecosystems dominated by extensive, mobile dune fields. These sand dunes, some over 10m high, support a large population of pale octopus with the sediments likely supporting crustaceans, polychaete worms and molluscs.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 5 species of albatross (one listed vulnerable)
- 2 species of petrels
- little penguin
- shearwater (culturally significant)
- white shark (vulnerable)
- southern right whale (endangered)
- pygmy blue whales (endangered)
The park is also a core foraging area for the early incubating and post-fledgling Tasmanian endemic endangered shy albatross (Endangered).
Apollo Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Mesophotic rocky reefs
- rariphotic (rare light) reefs and sediments
A key ecological feature represented in the park is the mesophotic reef, which supports sponge dominated benthic communities and diverse fish assemblages. The reef also provides habitat for southern rock lobsters, an apex predator important to ecosystem function. The deepest edge of the reef is likely to be a paleo shoreline.
Another key ecological feature is the ridge of low-profile rariphotic (rare-light) reef runs parallel to the paleo-shoreline separated by a 3 km wide sand dominated trough. Further rariphotic reefs may be in the south-east section of the park.
A dominate feature of the park is sediment habitats with several sand waves found in the north of the park. This ecosystem supports fish communities and may be a nursery for spikey dogfish.
The park includes biologically important areas for:
- 7 species of albatross (some endangered/vulnerable)
- common diving petrel
- 2 species shearwaters (culturally significant)
- white shark (Vulnerable)
Other protected matters
The MV City of Rayville shipwreck, an American freighter, lies near the western boundary of the park in a depth of 80 m. It was the first American vessel sunk during World War II – on 8 November 1940 after hitting a mine.
Nelson Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Abyssal reef and sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
The lower slope and abyssal ecosystems in the Nelson Marine Park may have similar fauna compositions to that of similar ecosystems found in the Great Australian Bight or to that in South-eastern Australia. Alternatively, these ecosystems may again be made up of compositionally distinct fauna.
Many whales migrate through the park when travelling between the cold food-filled southern waters and the warmer waters north where they breed.
Murray Marine Park
Natural values
The park protects the following ecosystems:
- Shelf sediments
- Rariphotic reefs
- Upper-slope sediments
- Mid-slope sediments
- Lower-slope reef and sediments
- Canyons
- Abyssal reef and sediments.
The park includes several canyons that result in the upwelling of nutrient-rich water. The Sprigg Canyon is one of Australia’s largest and most spectacular marine canyons. This creates a feeding and nursing area for endangered pygmy blue whales and likely sperm whales.
The northern section of the park is a breeding area for endangered southern right whales and a foraging area for male endangered Australian sea lions.
Towards the shelf break there are rariphotic reefs that are largely sand inundated but support a sessile invertebrate community dominated by soft corals.
The sediment shelf is a core foraging area for post-fledgling Tasmanian endemic endangered shy albatross.
Macquarie Island Marine Park
Natural values
A dominant feature of the park is the Macquarie Ridge which creates significantly different oceanic conditions and biology on the west and east sides of the ridge.
Three distinct bodies of water —the Sub-Antarctic, Polar Frontal, and Antarctic— run north to south across the park, separated by two east–west oceanographic fronts. The Subantarctic Front marks a shift from calcareous phytoplankton in the north to siliceous phytoplankton in the south. Although the area between these fronts is nutrient rich, phytoplankton productivity is low due to limited iron. Macquarie Island and ridge provide a source of iron, so productivity is elevated downstream, to the north-east of the island.
Along the Macquarie Ridge, stony corals and gorgonians occur mainly on ridge tops north and south of the Island, where they form key benthic habitats. These areas also support a higher diversity of sponges, crustaceans and echinoderms compared with areas to the east and west of the island.
The overhangs and ledges along the steep rubble slopes provide habitats for sponges, gorgonian corals, hydrocorals and anemones.
In depths of 200 m to 500 m east and west of Macquarie Island, the fauna is dominated by brachiopods, solitary ascidians and bivalve molluscs. The more sheltered eastern side of the island also has sediment-related fauna, such as sea pens.
Each of the 5 seamounts has different diverse faunal assemblages of corals, sponges, anemones, sea stars, bryozoans, sea cucumbers and crabs.
The park includes important areas for:
- Black-browed albatross (vulnerable)
- Wandering albatrosses (vulnerable)
- Grey-headed albatrosses
- Light-mantled sooty albatrosses
- Royal penguins (endemic)
- King penguins
- Grey petrels
- Antarctic fur
- Southern elephant seals (vulnerable)
- Humpback whales
- Southern right whales (endangered)
Other protected matters
Parts of Macquarie Island Marine Park, from the inshore boundary out to about 16.7 km (the edge of the territorial seas) intersect with the Macquarie Island World Heritage Area, which was listed for its outstanding geological values and wild natural beauty, including large aggregations king penguins, elephant seals and royal penguins – a species endemic to Macquarie Island and the nearby Bishop and Clerk Islets. This area is also on the National Heritage List.
The shipwreck of Nella Dan, a 75 m supply and research ship used by Australia’s Antarctic research program between 1961 and 1987, lies at 5,000 m depth within the Sanctuary Zone.
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