Shark Bay Marine Park is located about 60 kilometres offshore of Carnarvon, sitting adjacent to the Shark Bay Work Heritage Area. Shark Bay Marine Park is influenced by the Leeuwin, Ningaloo and Capes currents, and is host to many species listed as threatened, marine or cetacean under the EPBC Act. Loggerhead turtles use this region during their interesting period, and humpback whales migrate through the marine park each year. Shark Bay Marine Park also provides important breeding habitat for many listed vulnerable and migratory seabirds.
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Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Shark Bay 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 Shark Bay 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 Shark Bay marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Rivers, J. M, Kyser, T. K and James, N. P (2009).
Isotopic composition of a large photosymbiotic foraminifer: Evidence for hypersaline environments across the Great Australian Bight during the late Pleistocene.
Batteen, M. L, Kennedy, R. A and Miller, H. A. (2007).
A process-oriented numerical study of currents, eddies and meanders in the Leeuwin Current System.
Hanson, C. E, Waite, A. M, Thompson, P. A and Pattiaratchi, C. B. (2007).
Phytoplankton community structure and nitrogen nutrition in Leeuwin Current and coastal waters off the Gascoyne region of 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.
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.
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