Ningaloo Marine Park stretches 300 kilometres along the west coast of the Cape Range Peninsula near Exmouth, and lies adjacent to the Ningaloo Reef, which is the longest fringing barrier reef in Australia. Ningaloo Marine Park is incredibly important because it contains a series of canyons which are believed to bring colder, nutrient-rich waters onto the shelf, supporting the high productivity of Ningaloo Reef, and attracting all manner of marine species, including manta rays, protected species of sea turtles, humpback whales and, of course, the iconic whale shark which aggregates in this region through winter each year.
Video
This video highlights the bathymetry and benthic habitats off Point Cloates, which sits on the Carnarvon Shelf in the Ningaloo Marine Park. Key features include a prominent ridge at 60 metre water depths and a complex area of smaller ridges and mounds across the inner shelf. These ridges and mounds provide hard substrate for diverse coral and sponge communities.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Ningaloo Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Baited remote underwater stereo-videos (stereo-BRUV) were deployed to gather vital biodiversity benchmark data from some of the deepest parts of Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo is famed for its corals, but new data has shone a light into the deeper waters and onto its sponge diversity, revealing the region is home to at least 16 new species previously unknown to science.
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 Ningaloo 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 Ningaloo marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Cremen, M. C, Huisman, J, Marcelino, V and Verbruggen, H. (2016).
Taxonomic revision of Halimeda (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) in southwestern Australia.
D'Anastasi, B. R., Van Herwerden, L., Hobbs, J. A., Simpfendorfer, C. A. and Lukoschek, V. (2016).
New range and habitat records for threatened Australian sea snakes raise challenges for conservation.
Feng, M, Colberg, F, Slawinski, D, Berry, O and Babcock, R. (2016).
Ocean circulation drives heterogeneous recruitments and connectivity among coral populations on the North West Shelf of Australia.
Norman, B. M, Reynolds, S and Morgan, D. L. (2016).
Does the whale shark aggregate along the Western Australian coastline beyond Ningaloo Reef?.
Rosser, N. L. (2016).
Demographic history and asynchronous spawning shape genetic differentiation among populations of the hard coral Acropora tenuis in Western Australia.
Ferreira, L. C, Thums, M, Meeuwig, J. J, Vianna, G. M, Stevens, J, McAuley, R and Meekan, M. G. (2015).
Crossing latitudes--long-distance tracking of an apex predator.
Simpson, C. J, Beger, M, Colman, J. G, Friedman, K. J, Hill, A. K, Kendrick, A. J, Waples, K. A, Whiting, S. D and Wilson, S. K. (2015).
Prioritisation of conservation research and monitoring for Western Australian protected areas and threatened species.
Baldock, J, Bancroft, K. P, Williams, M, Shedrawi, G and Field, S. (2014).
Accurately estimating local water temperature from remotely sensed satellite sea surface temperature: A near real-time monitoring tool for marine protected areas.
Crandall, E. D, Treml, E. A, Liggins, L, Gleeson, L, Yasuda, N, Barber, P. H, Worheide, G and Riginos, C. (2014).
Return of the ghosts of dispersal past: historical spread and contemporary gene flow in the blue sea star Linckia laevigata.
Fulton, C. J, Depczynski, M, Holmes, T. H, Noble, M. M, Radford, B, Wernberg, T and Wilson, S. K. (2014).
Sea temperature shapes seasonal fluctuations in seaweed biomass within the Ningaloo coral reef ecosystem.
Penny, S. S and Willan, R. C. (2014).
Description of a new species of giant clam (Bivalvia: Tridacnidae) from Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
Depczynski, M, Gilmour, J. P, Ridgway, T, Barnes, H, Heyward, A. J, Holmes, T. H, Moore, J. A. Y, Radford, B. T, Thomson, D. P, Tinkler, P and Wilson, S. K. (2013).
Bleaching, coral mortality and subsequent survivorship on a West Australian fringing reef.
Gleiss, A. C, Wright, S, Liebsch, N, Wilson, R. P and Norman, B. (2013).
Contrasting diel patterns in vertical movement and locomotor activity of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
Hinrichs, S, Patten, N. L, Allcock, R. J. N, Saunders, S. M, Strickland, D and Waite, A. M. (2013).
Seasonal variations in energy levels and metabolic processes of two dominant Acropora species (A. spicifera and A. digitifera) at Ningaloo Reef.
Huelsken, T, Keyse, J, Liggins, L, Penny, S, Treml, E. A and Riginos, C. (2013).
A novel widespread cryptic species and phylogeographic patterns within several giant clam species (Cardiidae: Tridacna) from the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
Pearce, A. F and Feng, M. (2013).
The rise and fall of the "marine heat wave" off Western Australia during the summer of 2010/2011.
Przeslawski, R, McArthur, M. A and Anderson, T. J. (2013).
Infaunal biodiversity patterns from Carnarvon shelf (Ningaloo reef), Western Australia.
Rosser, N. L. (2013).
Biannual coral spawning decreases at higher latitudes on Western Australian reefs.
Speed, C. W, Babcock, R. C, Bancroft, K. P, Beckley, L. E, Bellchambers, L. M, Depczynski, M, Field, S. N, Friedman, K. J, Gilmour, J. P, Hobbs, J. P, Kobryn, H. T, Moore, J. A, Nutt, C. D, Shedrawi, G, Thomson, D. P and Wilson, S. K. (2013).
Dynamic stability of coral reefs on the west Australian coast.
Techera, E. J and Klein, N. (2013).
The role of law in shark-based eco-tourism: lessons from Australia.
Ceh, J, Raina, J. B, Soo, R. M, van Keulen, M and Bourne, D. G. (2012).
Coral-bacterial communities before and after a coral mass spawning event on Ningaloo Reef.
Falter, J. L, Lowe, R. J, Atkinson, M. J and Cuet, P. (2012).
Seasonal coupling and de-coupling of net calcification rates from coral reef metabolism and carbonate chemistry at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
O'Shea, O. R, Thums, M, van Keulen, M and Meekan, M. (2012).
Bioturbation by stingrays at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
Schonberg, C. H. L and Fromont, J. (2012).
Sponge gardens of Ningaloo Reef (Carnarvon Shelf, Western Australia) are biodiversity hotspots.
Smallwood, C. B and Beckley, L. E. (2012).
Spatial distribution and zoning compliance of recreational fishing in Ningaloo Marine Park, north-western Australia.
Armstrong, S. J, Bancroft, K. P and Davidson, J. A. (2008).
Bibliography of marine scientific research relevant to the Ningaloo Marine Park and Adjacent Waters.
Jackson, G. D, Meekan, M. G, Wotherspoon, S and Jackson, C. H. (2008).
Distributions of young cephalopods in the tropical waters of Western Australia over two consecutive summers.
Meekan, M. M, Speed, C. C, Planes, S. S, McLean, C. C and Bradshaw, C. C. (2008).
Population monitoring protocols for whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).
Speed, C. W, Meekan, M. G, Rowat, D, Pierce, S. J, Marshall, A. D and Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2008).
Scarring patterns and relative mortality rates of Indian Ocean whale sharks.
Woo, M and Pattiaratchi, C. (2008).
Hydrography and water masses off the western Australian coast.
Colquhoun, J and Heyward, A. (2007).
Ningaloo Reef Marine Park deepwater benthic biodiversity survey.
Sleeman, J. C, Meekan, M. G, Wilson, S. G, Jenner, C. K, Jenner, M. N, Boggs, G. S, Steinberg, C. C and Bradshaw, C. J. (2007).
Biophysical correlates of relative abundances of marine megafauna at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
Meekan, M, Bradshaw, C, Press, M, McLean, C, Richards, A, Quasnichka, S and Taylor, J. (2006).
Population size and structure of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) at Ningaloo Reef Western Australia.
Williams, A, Kloser, R and Bax, N. (2005).
Mapping benthic ecosystems on the deep continental shelf and slope in Australia's "SouthWest Region" to understand evolution and biogeography and support implementation of the SW Regional Marine Plan and Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas.
Rees, M, Heyward, A, Cappo, M, Speare, P and Smith, L. (2004).
Ningaloo Marine Park-Initial Survey of Seabed Biodiversity in Intermediate and Deeper Waters (March 2004).
Australia, Commonwealth of (2002).
Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Management Plan.
Sumner, N. R, Williamson, P. C and Malseed, B. E. (2002).
A 12-month survey of recreational fishing in the Gascoyne bioregion of Western Australia during 1998-99.
Collins, P. (2000).
Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Literature Review.
Taylor, J. G and Pearce, A. F. (1999).
Ningaloo Reef currents: implications for coral spawn dispersal, zooplankton and whale shark abundance.
Harriott, V. J and Simpson, C. J. (1997).
Coral recruitment on tropical and subtropical reefs in Western Australia.
Preen, A. R, Marsh, H, Lawler, I. R, Prince, R. I. T and Shepherd, R. (1997).
Distribution and abundance of dugongs, turtles, dolphins and other megafauna in Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia.
Hutchins, J. B. (1994).
A Survey of the Nearshore Reef Fish Fauna of Western Australia's West and South Coasts, the Leeuwin Province.
TOP