Apollo Marine Park is located in Commonwealth waters south of Cape Otway and Apollo Bay in western Victoria, and northwest of King Island. Habitats within Apollo Marine Park are exposed to large swell waves generated from the south-west and strong tidal flows. The sea floor has many rocky reef patches interspersed with areas of sediment, and in places has rich benthic fauna dominated by sponges. Seabirds and pygmy blue whales forage within Apollo Marine Park, while white sharks and southern ight whales are also regular visitors.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Apollo Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Apollo Marine Park contains sediment ecosystems, deep (mesophotic) reefs and a 5m high raised ridge feature, suspected to be deeper (rariphotic) reef habitat extending from the western park bound
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.
Scientists have captured imagery of a newly discovered underwater landscape beneath the waves in Bass Strait, revealing a complex seabed of deep reefs that have been sustaining life for fish and other fauna for millennia. Using multibeam sonar, a team from Deakin University’s marine mapping group has scanned the seafloor in the Apollo Marine Park, south-west Victoria for the very first time.
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 Apollo 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.
Find out where the seafloor has been mapped with sonar across the Marine Parks.
Scientific papers
The following publications contain information relevant to the Apollo marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Young, M, Ierodiaconou, D and Womersley, T. (2015).
Forests of the sea: Predictive habitat modelling to assess the abundance of canopy forming kelp forests on temperate reefs.
Lewis, P, Mitsopoulos, G and Molony, B. (2012).
Identification of Critical Habitats for Juvenile Dhufish (Glaucosoma Hebraicum): NRM Project 09038--protecting Inshore and Demersal Finfish.
Sidhu, L. A, Dann, P, Chambers, L and Catchpole, E. A (2012).
Seasonal ocean temperature and the survival of first-year little penguins Eudyptula minor in south-eastern Australia.
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