The location of Christmas Island, around 2600 kilometres north-west of Perth, makes it home to one of Australia's most remote communities. The ocean is a centrepiece of life for many community members, including those of Malay and Chinese heritage who maintain strong cultural traditions and connections to the surrounding marine environment. The tropical waters and fringing coral reefs that surround Christmas Island contain a mix of coral reef species from both the Indian and Pacific Oceans and over 680 species of fish have been recorded in the region. The overlap of these waters gives rise to varieties of hybrid marine fish and endemic species that are found nowhere else on earth. Christmas Island also has the world's greatest diversity and abundance of land crabs, most notably its famous red crab. The island's waters are essential for the crabs as they migrate to the coast to breed and release their eggs into the ocean. Other important inshore marine habitats include cave systems which support a mix of distinct species.
The offshore waters and habitats of Christmas Island Marine Park are relatively poorly studied. However, we know that they contain a range of unique seafloor features, habitats and species, particularly seamounts and deep-sea plains. Other marine areas are also considered to be biologically important. These include foraging areas for the endemic Abbott's Booby, Christmas Island Frigatebird and Golden bosun and other seabirds that nest on Christmas Island, as well as whale shark feeding areas and southern bluefish tuna breeding habitat. The marine park also protects species like dolphins, deep sea fish and sharks that are or may be threatened elsewhere in the region.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Christmas Island Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Small and/or camouflaged fish species hidden on or near the reef surface are commonly referred to as ‘cryptic’ or ‘cryptobenthic’ fishes. These species are characteristically difficult to see but are diverse and abundant throughout Australian Marine Parks and may play an important role in supporting the larger predatory fish species protected within park boundaries.
Parks Australia manage 60 Australian Marine Parks, many of which include shallow reefs. These reef habitats are hugely diverse, and include tropical reefs dominated by hard corals; current-swept offshore bommies covered in sea whips, sea fans and soft corals; temperate rocky reefs with sea urchin barrens or low lying colourful seaweeds; and deeper rocky reefs with sessile invertebrates and large black coral trees.
Natural values
Our marine parks have a number of different values, including natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values. The natural values of our marine parks refer to the habitats, species and ecological communities within them, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function. Below are the key datasets that help inform park managers about the natural values that exist within our network of Australian Marine Parks. For more information on other park values refer to the relevant park Management Plans on the Parks Australia website.
See which areas of Australia's oceans have similar characteristics.
Maps
The information provided by these datasets was integral in the planning and development of our national network of marine parks. Learn in detail about how scientists and marine park planners used these important marine features together to design Australia's network of marine parks, or explore the datasets for the Christmas Island Marine Park individually through the links below.
See where species richness is at its highest and lowest across Australian Marine Parks.
Latest maps
Since the initial planning of the Australian Marine Parks Network in 2012, new mapping data has emerged that allows us to see in finer detail the features that exist within our parks. These datasets help marine managers to understand more about what's under the surface, where there are overlaying management or protection regimes, and/or where pressures on the marine environment may be increasing.
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