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Australia > South-east > Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island Marine Park

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  • Natural values
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Network: South-east
Marine park area: 162,000 kilometres2
Depth range: 70 – more than 6000 metres
Average depth: 4,185 metres
More info about this marine park

Macquarie Island Marine Park is located in the Southern Ocean, about 1500 kilometres south-east of Tasmania and adjacent to the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve. The marine park is significant for its unique geological and biological characteristics. The islands orientation and the submerged Macquarie Ridge act as a major barrier to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, one of the largest and most important oceanic currents on Earth. The Macquarie Island Marine Park also includes critical foraging grounds many seabirds, including the black-browed, campbells and antipodean albatross'. A number of marine mammals, such as seals, penguins and whales also use this region for foraging, breeding and migration and the area holds international significance for its aggregations of these species.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Macquarie Island Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Pleurosicya mossambica

Cryptic fishes of Australian Marine Parks

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.
Green moon wrasse in Emily Bay lagoon

Extraordinary diversity of shallow reef habitats in Australian Marine Parks

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.
MI Zoomin 3 D

Macquarie Island Marine Park State of Knowledge

Macquarie Island Marine Park features both sanctuary and habitat protection zones offering the highest levels of protection to this unique sub-polar park.

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.

Biologically important areas

See where sea lions, sea birds, whales, dolphins and turtles like to breed, forage and nest.

Bioregions

See which areas of Australia's oceans have similar characteristics.
KEF Preview Imange

Key ecological features

See which habitats, features and processes scientists consider particularly important for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Ramsar Preview Image Ampsatlas

RAMSAR wetlands

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 Macquarie Island Marine Park individually through the links below.
Bathomes Preview Imange

Bathomes

See which areas of Marine Parks are of similar depth.
Bathymetry Preview Imange

Bathymetry (250 metre resolution)

Compare how deep the waters are within and between the Australian Marine Parks.
mean primary productivity hotspots

Chlorophyll-a and ocean productivity

See where Australian's oceans are (and aren't) rich in phytoplankton.
Preview Image Geomorph

Geomorphology

Explore the banks, pinnacles, troughs and other features of the seafloor in Australian Marine Parks.
rates of ocean warming

Sea surface temperature

Check out the typical water temperature in Australian Marine Parks.
Species Richness Preview Image Ampsatlas

Species richness

See where species richness is at its highest and lowest across Australian Marine Parks.
WHA Preview Imange Ampsatlas

World heritage areas

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.

Where have ships mapped the seafloor with sonar?

Find out where the seafloor has been mapped with sonar across the Marine Parks.

Scientific papers

The following publications contain information relevant to the Macquarie Island marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • Day, J, Haddon, M and Hillary, R. (2016). Stock Assessment of the Macquarie Island fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) using data up to and including August 2015.
  • Toomey, L, Welsford, D, Appleyard, S. A, Polanowski, A, Faux, C, Deagle, B. E, Belchier, M, Marthick, J and Jarman, S. (2016). Genetic structure of Patagonian toothfish populations from otolith DNA.
  • Gruby, R. L, Gray, N. J, Campbell, L. M and Acton, L. (2015). Toward a Social Science Research Agenda for Large Marine Protected Areas.
  • Raymond, B, Lea, M.A, Patterson, T, Andrews?Goff, V, Sharples, R, Charrassin, J.B, Cottin, M, Emmerson, L, Gales, N, Gales, R and Goldsworthy, S.D. (2015). Important marine habitat off east Antarctica revealed by two decades of multi?species predator tracking.
  • Wang, Z, Siems, S. T, Belusic, D, Manton, M. J and Huang, Y. (2015). A climatology of the precipitation over the Southern Ocean as observed at Macquarie Island.
  • Banks, J, Lea, M. A, Wall, S, McMahon, C. R and Hindell, M. A. (2014). Combining bio-logging and fatty acid signature analysis indicates spatio-temporal variation in the diet of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina.
  • Desprez, M , Harcourt, R , Hindell, M.A , Cubaynes, S , Gimenez, O and McMahon, C.R. (2014). Age-specific cost of first reproduction in female southern elephant seals.
  • Faux, C. E, McInnes, J. C and Jarman, S. N. (2014). High-throughput real-time PCR and melt curve analysis for sexing Southern Ocean seabirds using fecal samples.
  • McMahon, C. R, Howe, H, van den Hoff, J , Alderman, R , Brolsma, H and Hindell, M.A. (2014). Satellites, the all-seeing eyes in the sky: counting elephant seals from space.
  • New, L.F , Clark, J.S, Costa, D.P, Fleishman, E, Hindell, M.A, Klanjs?ek, T, Lusseau, D, Kraus, S, McMahon, C.R, Robinson, P.W and Schick, R.S. (2014). Using short-term measures of behaviour to estimate long-term fitness of southern elephant seals..
  • van den Hoff, J, McMahon, C.R, Simpkins, G.R, Hindell, M.A, Alderman, R and Burton, H.R. (2014). Bottom-up regulation of a pole-ward migratory predator population.
  • Bestley, S, Jonsen, I. D, Hindell, M. A, Guinet, C and Charrassin, J. B. (2013). Integrative modelling of animal movement: incorporating in situ habitat and behavioural information for a migratory marine predator.
  • Eriksson, C , Burton, H , Fitch, S , Schulz, M and van den Hoff, J. (2013). Daily accumulation rates of marine debris on sub-Antarctic island beaches.
  • O'Hara, T. D, Smith, P. J, Mills, V. S, Smirnov, I and Steinke, D. (2013). Biogeographical and phylogeographical relationships of the bathyal ophiuroid fauna of the Macquarie Ridge, Southern Ocean.
  • Bindeman, I. N, Kamenetsky, V. S, Palandri, J and Vennemann, T. (2012). Hydrogen and oxygen isotope behaviors during variable degrees of upper mantle melting: Example from the basaltic glasses from Macquarie Island.
  • Conway, C. E, Bostock, H. C, Baker, J. A, Wysoczanski, R. J and Verdier, A. L. (2012). Evolution of Macquarie Ridge Complex seamounts: implications for volcanic and tectonic processes at the Australia-Pacific plate boundary south of New Zealand.
  • Downey, R. V, Griffiths, H. J, Linse, K and Janussen, D. (2012). Diversity and distribution patterns in high southern latitude sponges.
  • Field, I. C, Harcourt, R. G, Boehme, L, Bruyn, P. J, Charrassin, J. B, McMahon, C. R, Bester, M. N, Fedak, M. A and Hindell, M. A. (2012). Refining instrument attachment on phocid seals.
  • Hande, L. B, Siems, S. T and Manton, M. J. (2012). Observed trends in wind speed over the Southern Ocean.
  • Heupink, T. H, van den Hoff, J and Lambert, D.M. (2012). King penguin population on Macquarie Island recovers ancient DNA diversity after heavy exploitation in historic times.
  • Hindell, M. A, Bradshaw, C. J, Brook, B. W, Fordham, D. A, Kerry, K, Hull, C and McMahon, C. R. (2012). Long-term breeding phenology shift in royal penguins.
  • Jovanovic, B, Braganza, K, Collins, D and Jones, D. (2012). Climate variations and change evident in high-quality climate data for Australia's Antarctic and remote island weather stations.
  • Kamenetsky, V. S and Eggins, S. M. (2012). Systematics of metals, metalloids, and volatiles in MORB melts: effects of partial melting, crystal fractionation and degassing (a case study of Macquarie Island glasses).
  • Kendrick, M. A, Kamenetsky, V. S, Phillips, D and Honda, M. (2012). Halogen systematics (Cl, Br, I) in mid-ocean ridge basalts: a Macquarie Island case study.
  • Schwarz, L. K, Hindell, M. A, McMahon, C. R and Costa, D. P. (2012). The implications of assuming independent tag loss in southern elephant seals.
  • Wayte, S and Fay, G. (2012). Stock assessment of the Macquarie Island fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) using data up to and including August 2011.
  • Wayte, S and Fay, G. (2012). Stock assessment of the Macquarie Island fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) using data up to and including August 2012.
  • Bonnaud, E, Medina, F. M, Vidal, E, Nogales, M, Tershy, B, Zavaleta, E, Donlan, C. J, Keitt, B and Le, Corre (2011). The diet of feral cats on islands: a review and a call for more studies.
  • Fay, G, Tuck, G. N and Haddon, M. (2011). Stock Assessment of the Macquarie Island fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) using data up to and including June 2010.
  • Field, I. C, Cherel, Y, Guinet, C, Bradshaw, C. J, McMahon, C. R and Hindell, M. A. (2011). Diet of juvenile southern elephant seals reappraised by stable isotopes in whiskers.
  • Kelly, M and Vacelet, J. (2011). Three new remarkable carnivorous sponges (Porifera, Cladorhizidae) from deep New Zealand and Australian (Macquarie Island) waters.
  • Thums, M, Bradshaw, C. J and Hindelli, M. A. (2011). In situ measures of foraging success and prey encounter reveal marine habitat-dependent search strategies.
  • Zhou, S and Fuller, M. (2011). Sustainability assessment for fishing effect on fish bycatch species in the Macquarie Island Toothfish Longline Fishery: 2007.
  • Ziegler, P. E, Welsford, D. C and Constable, A. J. (2011). Length-based assessments revisited-why stock status and fishing mortaliIty of long-lived specIes such as toothfIsh cannot be inferred from length-frequency data alone.
  • Van der Putten, N, Verbruggen, C, Ochyra, R, Verleyen, E and Frenot, Y. (2010). Subantarctic flowering plants: pre-glacial survivors or post-glacial immigrants?.
  • Goldsworthy, S. D, McKenzie, J, Page, B, Lancaster, M. L, Shaughnessy, P. D, Wynen, L. P, Robinson, S. A, Peters, K. J, Baylis, A. M and McIntosh, R. R. (2009). Fur seals at Macquarie Island: post-sealing colonisation, trends in abundance and hybridisation of three species.
  • Goldsworthy, S. D, McKenzie, J, Page, B, Lancaster, M and Bool, N. (2008). Population status and trends in the abundance of the fur seals at Macquarie Island.
  • Mosher, S and Symons, C. M. (2008). Ridge reorientation mechanisms: Macquarie ridge complex, Australia-Pacific plate boundary.
  • Trebilco, R, Gales, R, Baker, G. B, Terauds, A and Sumner, M. D (2008). At sea movement of Macquarie Island giant petrels: relationships with marine protected areas and regional fisheries management organisations.
  • Van Den Hoff, J and Morrice, M. (2008). Sleeper shark (Somniosus antarcticus) and other bite wounds observed on southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island..
  • Waugh, S. M, Baker, G. B, Gales, R and Croxall, J. P. (2008). CCAMLR process of risk assessment to minimise the effects of longline fishing mortality on seabirds.
  • Bergstrom, D. M, Turner, P. A, Scott, J, Copson, G and Shaw, J. (2006). Restricted plant species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie and Heard Islands.
  • Research, Australian National Committee on Antarctic (2006). Australian Antarctic Territory, Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and observations on Macquarie Island Tasmania.
  • Terauds, A, Gales, R, Barry Baker, G and Alderman, R. (2006). Foraging areas of black?browed and grey?headed albatrosses breeding on Macquarie Island in relation to marine protected areas.
  • Wienecke, B and Robertson, G. (2006). Comparison of foraging strategies of incubating king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus from Macquarie and Heard islands.
  • Chown, Steven L, Bruce, Hull and Kevin, J. Gaston. (2005). Human impacts, energy availability and invasion across Southern Ocean Islands.
  • McMahon, C. R, Bester, M. N, Burton, H. R, Hindell, M. A and Bradshaw, C. J. (2005). Population status, trends and a re-examination of the hypotheses explaining the recent declines of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina.
  • Field, I. C, Bradshaw, C.J, Burton, H. R and Hindell, M. A. (2004). Seasonal use of oceanographic and fisheries management zones by juvenile southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Macquarie Island.
  • Lilley, F. E. M, White, A, Heinson, G. S and Procko, K. (2004). Seeking a seafloor magnetic signal from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
  • van den Hoff, J. (2004). A comparative study of the cephalopod prey of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) and southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) near Macquarie Island.
  • Wertz, K. L. (2003). From seafloor spreading to uplift: the structural and geochemical evolution of Macquarie Island on the Australian-Pacific plate boundary.
  • Appleyard, S. A, Ward, R. D and Williams, R. (2002). Population structure of the Patagonian toothfish around Heard, McDonald and Macquarie Islands.
  • O'Hara, T.D, Poore, G.C.B, Ahyong, S and Staples, D.A. (2002). Rapid assembly of Invertebrate data for the SE Regional Marine Plan..
  • Tierney, M, Hindell, M. A and Goldsworthy, S. (2002). Energy content of mesopelagic fish from Macquarie Island.
  • Wienecke, B and Robertson, G. (2002). Seabird and seal--fisheries interactions in the Australian Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides trawl fishery.
  • Environment, Australia (2001). Macquarie Island Marine Park Management Plan 2001-2008.
  • Goldsworthy, S. D, He, X, Tuck, G. N, Lewis, M and Williams, R. (2001). Trophic interactions between the Patagonian toothfish, its fishery, and seals and seabirds around Macquarie Island.
  • Goscombe, B. D and Everard, J. L. (2001). Tectonic evolution of Macquarie Island: Extensional structures and block rotations in oceanic crust.
  • He, X and Furlani, D. M. (2001). Ecologically sustainable development of the fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) around Macquarie Island: Population parameters, population assessment and ecological interactions.
  • O'Hara, T. (1998). Origin of Macquarie Island echinoderms.
  • Duncan, R. A and Varne, R. (1988). The age and distribution of the igneous rocks of Macquarie Island.
  • Griffin, B. J. (1982). Igneous and metamorphic petrology of lavas and dykes of the Macquarie Island ophiolite complex.
  • Griffin, B. J and Varne, R. (1980). The Macquarie Island ophiolite complex: Mid-Tertiary oceanic lithosphere from a major ocean basin.
  • Varne, R, Gee, R. D and Quilty, P. G. (1969). Macquarie island and the cause of oceanic linear magnetic anomalies.
  • Field, I.C , Bradshaw, C.J, van den Hoff, J , Burton, H.R and Hindell, M.A. (NA). Age-related shifts in the diet composition of southern elephant seals expand overall foraging niche..
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