Mermaid Reef Marine Park is situated about 280 kilometres north-west of Broom. Originally proclaimed a marine park under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975 in 1991, Mermaid Reef Marine Park is one of three coral atolls that form the Rowley Shoals, which have been described as the best geological examples of shelf atolls in Australian waters. Mermaid Reef Marine Park includes biodiverse ecosystems associated with emergent and deep reef flats, lagoon and submerged sand habitats, and is home to over 214 coral species, 530 fish species and a huge array of invertebrate fauna.
Video
This video shows footage of divers exploring vertical walls of the pristine coral reef habitat in the Mermaid Reef Marine Park.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Mermaid Reef 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.
A re-survey of sites within the North-west Marine Park Network revealed an increase in fish biomass, richness, biomass of larger fishes, coral cover and macro-invertebrate density at Ashmore Reef Marine Park (IUCN Ia). Many of these changes were not recorded at fished reference sites, suggesting the strict sanctuary zoning is having a positive effect.
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 wetlands of international significance are protected by Australian Marine Parks.
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 Mermaid Reef Marine Park individually through the links below.
See which areas of Australia's marine environments have been World Heritage listed.
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.
Examine how exposure to tropical cyclone activity varies across Australian Marine Parks.
Scientific papers
The following publications contain information relevant to the Mermaid Reef marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
McKinney, D. (2009).
A survey of the scleractinian corals at Mermaid, Scott, and Seringapatam Reefs, Western Australia.
Moore, G. I and Morrison, S. M. (2009).
Fishes of three North West Shelf atolls off Western Australia: Mermaid (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs.
Morrison, P. F. (2009).
Subtidal Habitats of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs, Western Australia.
Lewis, A. (2008).
Summary of reef condition at selected sites at Clerke Reef and Mermaid Reef, Rowley Shoals, October 2008.
Long, S, Armstrong, S, Fabricius, K, Field, I, Cook, K, Colquhoun, J and Huisman, J. M. (2008).
Comparative marine biodiversity survey of the Rowley Shoals, 1-17 Dec 2007: metadata report.
Meekan, M and Cappo, M. (2004).
Non-destructive techniques for rapid assessment of shark abundance in northern Australia.
Rees, M, Colquhoun, J, Smith, L and Heyward, A. (2003).
Surveys of Trochus, Holothuria, Giant Clams and the Coral Communities at Ashmore Reef, Cartier Reef, and Mermaid Reef, Northwestern Australia: 2003.
Australia, Commonwealth of (2000).
Mermaid Reef Marine National Nature Researve plan of management.
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