East Gippsland Marine Park lies off the north-east corner of Victoria in deep waters off the continental shelf. East Gippsland Marine Park includes representative examples of an extensive network of canyons, and continental slope and escarpment environments. The varied seafloor terrain in this region interacts with large-scale eddies associated with the East Australian Current, and causes episodic productivity events that drive phytoplankton blooms. These blooms are the basis of the food chain, and support fisheries and high biodiversity within the area, including top order predators, marine mammals and seabirds.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the East Gippsland 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.
East Gippsland Marine Park contains deep water habitats featuring large box canyons, ridges, margin slumps, and plateaus bordered by steep escarpments.
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 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 East Gippsland 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 East Gippsland marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
McLean, D. L, Green, M, Harvey, E. S, Williams, A, Daley, R and Graham, K. J. (2015).
Comparison of baited longlines and baited underwater cameras for assessing the composition of continental slope deepwater fish assemblages off southeast Australia.
Beaman, R. J, Daniell, J. J and Harris, P. T. (2005).
Geology-benthos relationships on a temperate rocky bank, eastern Bass Strait, Australia.
Bax, N. J and Williams, A. (2001).
Seabed habitat on the south-eastern Australian continental shelf: context, vulnerability and monitoring.
Bax, N. J, Burford, M, Clementson, L and Davenport, S (2001).
Phytoplankton blooms and production sources on the south-east Australian continental shelf.
Bax, N. J, Williams, A and Althaus, F. (1999).
Development of a Rapid-assessment Technique to Determine Biological Interactions of Fishes and Their Environment and Their Role in the Ecosystem.
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